- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Institution: 29 June 2000
- Country: United States
The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor was established on June 29, 2000 by President Bill Clinton and is the highest decoration for bravery exhibited by public safety officers in the United States, comparable to the military’s Medal of Honor. The medal was originally called the Presidential Medal of Valor for Public Safety Officers.
Before the establishment of the medal, there were no Federal awards to specifically acknowledge the bravery performed by public safety officers throughout the United States (except for medals at state or government level).
Although the award is still presented by the President of the United States, it is now done in the name of the United States Congress. The Attorney General no longer makes recommendations directly to the President but can provide input into the process via the Department of Justice’s National Medal of Valor Office’s support of the Review Board.
The medal can be awarded posthumously.
The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Design
The medal intentionally resembles the military’s Medal of Honor and is a gilt, blue-enameled, five-pointed, upside-down star, with each arm formed by a letter “V” (for Valor), surrounded by a wreath of laurel.
In the obverse, the central disc bears the Great Seal of the United States. The reverse, the legend “FOR EXTRAORDINARY VALOR ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY” and the name of the recipient engraved at the center.
The medal is suspended on a gilt disc bearing a letter “V” surrounded by a wreath of laurels, which is in turn suspended on a neck ribbon, blue with white and red edge stripes (the national colors of the USA) and a gold center stripe (symbolizing honor). When the ribbon alone is worn, it carries a miniature gold gilt disc bearing a letter “V” surrounded by a wreath of laurels. There is also a lapel pin, which is the miniature of the medal without suspension.
