Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery

The nomination period for the Congressional Badge of Honor is now open.  Nominations are due by February 15, 2016.  The Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008 establishes an award to honor exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. The medals are awarded annually by the U.S. Attorney General and are presented by the recipients' Congressional representatives.  Nominations must be submitted to https://badgeofbravery.ncjrs.gov/NominationForm.aspx.  a template for submission can be found here: https://badgeofbravery.ncjrs.gov/CBOBApplicationTemplate.pdf.  For more details, see below.

Every day, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers engage in exceptional acts of bravery while in the line of duty. Often, such acts place the officers involved at personal risk of injury or result in their sustaining a physical injury. The Act establishes an award to honor exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. The medals are awarded annually by the U.S. Attorney General and are presented by the recipients' Congressional representatives.

To meet the definition of an act of bravery, nominees for the Congressional Badge of Bravery must have either:

  1. Sustained a physical injury while –
    • Engaged in the lawful duties of the individual, and
    • Performing an act characterized as bravery by the agency head who makes the nomination, and
    • Being at personal risk; or
  2. Although not injured, performed an act characterized as bravery by the agency head who makes the nomination that placed the individual at risk of serious physical injury or death.