United States law enforcement decorations



United States law enforcement decorations are awarded by the police forces of the United States of America. Since the United States has a decentralized police force, with separate independent departments existing on the state and local level, there are thousands of law enforcement decorations in existence.

Usage and history
Law enforcement medals and badges first appeared in the late 19th century, as used by some of the (then) largest police departments in the country, such as the New York City Police Department and Chicago Police Department. Early law enforcement awards were often pins and badges awarded on a case-by-case basis. Standardized law enforcement awards began to appear once police departments began issuing more codified and structured uniform regulations.

Originally, law enforcement awards were rarely awarded, and then only for acts of heroism or bravery. The oldest police awards thus have such names as "Medal of Valor" and "Medal of Honor". Later in the 20th century, police departments began issuing medal ribbons for such routine tasks as years of service, completion of training, or simply general membership in the police. Law enforcement awards, historically the domain of larger city departments, became more common with smaller local and town offices, as well as Sheriff's departments, towards the end of the 20th century.

Typically, law enforcement decorations are bestowed by a particular police department and may only be worn and displayed while a police officer is serving as a member of that particular law enforcement activity. Most such awards are provided by city, county and state officials. Federal law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, DEA, and the Department of Homeland Security issue medals under the authority of the United States government which are considered separate civilian government awards.

Law enforcement awards are often independently designed by the city, town, or county, where they are issued and many have a unique appearance to separate them from U.S. military awards (which are themselves often authorized for wear on police uniforms by military veterans). During the trial of George Zimmerman, the Sanford Police Department came under heavy criticism when it was revealed on national television that their officers were wearing U.S. military awards, including such decorations as the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, with simply different names as police awards. After numerous complaints to both the Sanford police and the Fraternal Order of Police, the department discontinued this practice of wearing U.S. military awards in lieu of unique police decorations.

Index of law enforcement awards
The following sections list various police decorations by awarding agency

Columbia Police Department

 * Medal of Valor
 * Purple Heart
 * Certificate of Commendation
 * Letter of Appreciation

Denver Police Department

 * Denver Police Medal of Honor
 * Denver Police Service Cross
 * Denver Police Medal of Valor
 * Police Purple Heart
 * Police Lifesaving Medal
 * Police Campaign Medal
 * Physical Fitness Award

Elyria Police Department

 * Medal of Honor.JPG Elyria Police Medal of Honor
 * Elyria Police Medal of Valor
 * Police Lifesaving Medal
 * Medal of Merit.jpg Police Medal of Merit
 * Purple Heart.jpg Police Purple Heart
 * Police Commendation Medal
 * Safe Driving Medal
 * Tactical Squad Service Medal
 * Community Service Medal
 * Education Award.JPG Police Education Medal
 * Advanced Certification Award.png Advanced Certification Medal
 * Field Training Officer Medal
 * Top Gun Medal
 * Honor Guard Ribbon Banner.jpg Police Honor Guard Medal

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

 * Medal of Honor
 * Purple Heart
 * Medal of Valor
 * Medal of Bravery
 * Medal of Merit
 * Ruthann Popcheff Memorial Award

Los Angeles Police Department

 * Los Angeles Police Department Medal of Valor ribbon.svg Los Angeles Police Medal of Valor
 * Liberty Award.jpg Liberty Award
 * Policemedal.JPG Police Medal for Heroism
 * Policestar.JPG Los Angeles Police Star
 * Lifesavingmedal.JPG Police Lifesaving Medal
 * Pcdsm.JPG Police Commission Distinguished Service Medal
 * Los Angeles Police Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svge Distinguished Service Medal
 * PMSM.JPG Police Meritorious Service Medal
 * PMAM.JPG Police Meritorious Achievement Medal
 * Cpm.JPG Community Policing Medal
 * Humanrelations.JPG Human Relations Medal
 * Pcuc.JPG Police Commission Unit Citation
 * Pmuc.JPGe Meritorious Unit Citation
 * Reserve service ribbon.jpg Reserve Police Officer Service Ribbon
 * 1984 Summer Olympics Ribbon
 * 1987pv.JPG 1987 Papal Visit Ribbon
 * 92riots.JPG 1992 Civil Disturbance Ribbon
 * 1994quake.JPG 1994 Earthquake Ribbon

Minneapolis Police Department

 * Medal of Honor
 * Medal of Valor
 * Medal of Commendation

New York City Police Department

 * NYPD Medal of Honor breast bar.svg NYPD Medal of Honor
 * Greenribbon.jpg NYPD Combat Cross
 * Blueribbon.jpg NYPD Medal of Valor
 * NYPD Purple Shield
 * Mpd silver.JPG Meritorious Police Duty (MPD) Honorable Mention
 * Mpd green.jpg Meritorious Police Duty (MPD) Exceptional Merit
 * Mpd bronze.jpg Meritorious Police Duty (MPD) Commendation or Commendation – Integrity
 * Mpd blue.jpg Meritorious Police Duty (MPD) Commendation – Community Service
 * Mpd.jpg Meritorious Police Duty (MPD)
 * NYPD EPD.jpg Excellent Police Duty (EPD)

Oklahoma City Police Department

 * Oklahoma Police Medal of Honor
 * Oklahoma Police Cross
 * Police Medal of Valor
 * Medal of Meritorious Service

Philadelphia Police Department

 * Sgt. Robert F. Wilson III Commendation for Valor
 * Commendation for Bravery
 * Commendation for Heroism
 * Commendation for Merit
 * Commendatory Citation
 * RNC Service Ribbon
 * Military Service Ribbon

Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department

 * Saint Louis Meritorious Award
 * Saint Louis Medal of Valor – Crusade Against Crime
 * Saint Louis Chief of Police Letter of Accommodation
 * Saint Louis Captains Letter of Accommodation
 * Saint Louis Officer of the Year Award
 * Saint Louis Officer of the Month Award (Given each month in each of the Six Districts)
 * Proclamation by the Mayor of the City of Saint Louis
 * Proclamation by the City of Saint Louis Board of Aldermen

Sanford Police Department
Prior to the controversy surrounding the display of obvious U.S. military award ribbons as police decorations, the Sanford police issued these ribbons (in order of precedence shown below) before discontinuing the practice.


 * Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg
 * Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal ribbon.svg
 * Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg
 * PHL Independence Medal ribbon.png
 * Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg
 * Army of Occupation ribbon.svg

St. Louis County Police Department

 * St. Louis County Medal of Honor
 * Police Medal of Valor
 * St. Louis Distinguished Service Citation
 * St. Louis Meritorious Service Citation
 * Police Purple Heart
 * Citizen's Recognition Medal