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
Elyria Police Medal of Honor
Elyria Police Medal of Valor
Police Lifesaving Medal
Police Medal of Merit
Police Purple Heart
Police Commendation Medal
Safe Driving Medal
Tactical Squad Service Medal
Community Service Medal
Police Education Medal
Advanced Certification Medal
Field Training Officer Medal
Top Gun Medal
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 Medal of Valor
Liberty Award
Police Medal for Heroism
Los Angeles Police Star
Police Lifesaving Medal
Police Commission Distinguished Service Medal
Police Distinguished Service Medal
Police Meritorious Service Medal
Police Meritorious Achievement Medal
Community Policing Medal
Human Relations Medal
Police Commission Unit Citation
Police Meritorious Unit Citation
Reserve Police Officer Service Ribbon
1984 Summer Olympics Ribbon
1987 Papal Visit Ribbon
1992 Civil Disturbance Ribbon
1994 Earthquake Ribbon
Minneapolis Police Department
Medal of Honor
Medal of Valor
Medal of Commendation
Minnesota State Patrol
Montgomery County Police Department
New York City Police Department
NYPD Medal of Honor
NYPD Combat Cross
NYPD Medal of Valor
NYPD Purple Shield
Meritorious Police Duty (MPD) Honorable Mention
Meritorious Police Duty (MPD) Exceptional Merit
Meritorious Police Duty (MPD) Commendation or Commendation – Integrity
Meritorious Police Duty (MPD) Commendation – Community Service
Meritorious Police Duty (MPD)
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.