Executive Order 13161 · 2000-07-05

Establishment of the Presidential Medal of Valor for Public Safety Officers

Establishes Presidential Medal of Valor for Public Safety Officers

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Signed by William J. Clinton
Published 2000-07-05

What it does

The order directs the Attorney General to recommend annual candidates and submit medal and certificate designs for presidential approval, with the Department of Justice preparing them.

Real-world impact

  • Creates an annual national award honoring public safety officers' extraordinary valor.
  • Allows up to ten officers to be honored each year.
  • Requires Attorney General recommendations and DOJ preparation of medals and certificates.

Topics

public safetylaw enforcement recognitionfirst respondersfederal awards

Summary

This order creates the Presidential Medal of Valor to honor public safety officers who show extraordinary valor beyond the call of duty. It defines eligible officers to include police, correctional, probation, parole officers, firefighters, and emergency responders who work for the federal government, a State, an officially recognized local elected body, or a federally recognized tribal organization.

The Attorney General must recommend candidates to the President by April 1 each year. The President may choose up to ten recipients annually, and the Department of Justice will prepare the medal and certificate; the medal may be awarded posthumously.

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