Chapter 3 – Personnel, Training, and Employee Relations

31030.4.5 Awards – Descriptions and Criteria

• Medal of Valor

  • The Medal of Valor is the department’s highest award, earned by employees distinguishing themselves by conspicuous bravery or heroism above and beyond the normal demands of correctional service.  The employee shall display great courage in the face of immediate life-threatening peril and with full knowledge of the risk involved.  The act should show professional judgment and not jeopardize operations or the lives of others.

  • The medal consists of a gold-color medallion on a red, white, and blue ribbon.

  • With the medal, the employee receives a red, white, and blue ribbon for wear with the Class A uniform and a lapel pin replica of the medallion for wear with civilian attire.

• Corrections Star (Gold)

  • The Corrections Star (Gold) medal is the department’s second highest award for heroic deeds under extra-ordinary circumstances.  The employee shall display courage in the face of immediate peril in acting to save the life of another person.

  • The medal consists of a gold-color medallion in the shape of the departmental badge on a blue and white ribbon.

  • With the medal, the employee receives a blue and white ribbon for wear with the
    Class A uniform and a lapel pin replica of the medallion for wear with civilian attire.

• Corrections Star (Silver)

  • The Corrections Star (Silver) medal is the department’s third highest award for acts of bravery under extra-ordinary or unusual circumstances.  The employee shall display courage in the face of potential peril while saving or attempting to save the life of another person or distinguish themselves by performing in stressful situations with exceptional tactics or judgment.

  • The medal consists of a silver-color medallion in the shape of the departmental badge on a red and white ribbon.

  • With the medal, the employee receives a red and white ribbon for wear with the
    Class A uniform and a lapel pin replica of the medallion for wear with civilian attire.

• Corrections Star (Bronze)

  • The Corrections Star (Bronze) medal is the department’s award for saving a life without placing oneself in peril.  The employee shall have used proper training and tactics in a professional manner to save, or clearly contribute to saving, the life of another person.

  • The medal consists of a bronze-color medallion in the shape of the departmental badge on a yellow and white ribbon.

  • With the medal, the employee receives a yellow and white ribbon for wear with the Class A uniform and a lapel pin replica of the medallion for wear with civilian attire

• Distinguished Service Medal

  • The Distinguished Service Medal is for an employee’s exemplary work conduct with the department for a period of months or years, or involvement in a specific assignment of unusual benefit to the department.

  • The medal consists of a bronze-color medallion presented on a green and white ribbon.

  • With the medal, the employee receives a green and white ribbon for wear with the Class A uniform and a lapel pin replica of the medallion for wear with civilian attire.

• Unit Citation

  • The Unit Citation is for great courage displayed by a departmental unit in the course of conducting an operation in the face of immediate life-threatening circumstances.

  • Recipients shall also receive a green and gold ribbon for wear with the Class A uniform.