Today marks the opening of the nomination period for the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor. This medal is the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer, and is awarded by the President or Vice President, along with the Attorney General of the United States to public safety officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.
An act of valor is defined as:
- Above and beyond the call of duty; and
- Exhibiting—
- exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and presence of mind.
- unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life.
To receive the Medal of Valor, public safety officers must be nominated by the chief executive officer of their employing agencies, recommended by the bipartisan Medal of Valor Review Board, and cited by the Attorney General.
Visit the Medal of Valor website in order to learn more about how to nominate a public safety officer, to view previous years' recipients, and other program information. Nominations must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31, 2015.