Panel backs national 'Medal of Valor' for public safety officers

The House Judiciary Committee voted last week to approve a bill, H.R. 802, that would honor public safety officers for extraordinary performance of their duties with a national Medal of Valor. Under the bill, which passed Thursday on a voice vote, the medal would be presented to as many as five officers each year by the President, on behalf of the Congress and the American people. The recipients would be police or other law enforcement officers, fire fighters, or emergency services officers. They would be selected by the Attorney General, in consultation with a new review board. "Many countries recognize their public safety officers with a national medal," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, a committee member and the bill's chief sponsor. "In the United States, many state and local governments recognize extraordinary acts of heroism by public safety officers with public recognition. At the federal level, many agencies award their own medals to law enforcement officers who demonstrate heroism. But there is no national medal which may be awarded to public safety officers regardless of which level of government employs them." The new Medal of Valor itself would be of "appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances," and designed in conjunction with the Department of Defense Institute of Heraldry, according to the bill text. According to Smith, the bill is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Troopers Coalition, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and other groups.