Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Medals of the New York City Police Department

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The New York City Police Department presents medals to its members for meritorious service. The medals the NYPD awards are as follows (from highest medal to lowest):

Contents

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor (solid green bar speckled tiny gold stars) is awarded for:

  • Individual acts of extraordinary bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent and personal danger to life. Specifically, the Department Medal of Honor is awarded for acts of gallantry and valor performed with knowledge of the risk involved, above and beyond the call of duty.

    • Police Combat Cross

    The Police Combat Cross (solid green bar) is awarded for:

  • Members who have successfully and intelligently performed an act of extraordinary heroism, while engaged in personal combat with an armed adversary under circumstances of imminent personal hazard to life.

    • Medal for Valor

    The Medal for Valor (solid blue bar) is awarded for:

  • Acts of outstanding personal bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent personal hazard to life under circumstances evincing a disregard of personal consequences.

    • Honorable Mention

    The Honorable Mention (displayed wearing the MPD medal with a silver star in the middle) is awarded for:

  • An act of extraordinary bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent and personal danger to life.

    • Exceptional Merit

    The Exceptional Merit (displayed wearing the MPD medal with a green star in the middle) is awarded for:

  • An act of bravery intelligently performed involving personal risk to life.

    • Commendation or Commendation—Integrity

    The Commendation or Commendation—Integrity (displayed wearing the MPD medal with a bronze star in the middle) is awarded for:

  • Grave personal danger in the performance of duty, OR
  • A highly creditable, unusual police accomplishment.

    • Commendation—Community Service

    The Commendation—Community Service (displayed wearing the MPD medal with a blue star in the middle) is awarded for:

  • An act which demonstrates devotion to a Community service.
  • An idea implemented that improves conditions within a Community.

    • Meritorious Police Duty

    The Meritorious Police Duty (MPD medal with no star in the middle) is awarded for:

  • An act of intelligent and valuable police service demonstrating special faithfulness or perseverance, OR
  • Highly creditable acts of police service over a period of time.

    • Excellent Police Duty (EPD)

    The Excellent Police Duty (green and white bar with gold vertical bars) is awarded for:

  • An intelligent act materially contributing to a valuable accomplishment, OR
  • Submission of a device or method adopted to increase efficiency in an administrative or tactical procedure.

    • Purple Shield

    The department also awards a Purple Shield to those injured or killed in the line of duty.

    Other awards or decorations

    Various commemorative medals, unit citations, air crew wings, and others have also been authorized for wear.

    American Flag Breast Bar

  • May be worn by any NYPD Police Officer

    • World Trade Center Breast Bar

  • May be worn by any NYPD Police Officer who was in active service during, or worked details related to the follow up on, the September 11 attacks.

    • Award of Merit

  • May be worn by any NYPD Police Officer who has received the Award of Merit.

    • Award of Commendation

  • May be worn by any NYPD Police Officer who has received the Award of Commendation.

    • Firearms Proficiency Bar

  • May be worn by any NYPD Police Officer who has been certified or recertified as an expert shooter with their police firearm.

    • References

    Medals of the New York City Police Department Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA