Boca Raton Police Services Department Awards PDF

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Departmental Standards Directive 26.120 AWARDS Revised: February 10, 2016 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this departmental standards directive is to establish guidelines for recognizing and awarding employees of the Department for outstanding performance and serv...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Departmental Standards Directive 26.120 AWARDS Revised: February 10, 2016 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this departmental standards directive is to establish guidelines for recognizing and awarding employees of the Department for outstanding performance and services provided internally and externally. II. POLICY: It shall be the policy of the Department to recognize employees for acts of distinguished service or outstanding achievement as well as day-to-day accomplishments of note. III. PROCEDURE: A. NOMINATIONS: 1. Any employee may nominate another employee for an award by submitting the nomination to the appropriate committee via the chain of command. The award nomination should state: a. The full name and unit assignment of the nominated employee b. The circumstances recommendation c. or the incident(s) that resulted in the The basis for considering the performance as worthy of recognition d. Supporting documentation, e.g., letters, memorandums, or statements, when applicable, that further explains the events. B. AWARDS COMMITTEES: 1. The law enforcement officer (LEO) and civilian awards committees will meet separately during the first week of each month to select the officer and civilian of the month, recipients of meritorious service awards, and determine any other awards to submit for final approval. 2. The awards committees may recommend other actions on nominations based on a review of documentation and circumstances. Effective: August 10, 1999 Revised: February 10, 2016 Awards Directive No. 26.120 Page 1 of 8 3. The awards committee will forward all award recommendations and all documentation reviewed through the chain of command to the chief of police or his/her designee for final determination after committee review. 4. The chief of police or his/her designee may deny recommended awards or confer awards which were not recommended based on all submitted documentation. 5. The chief of police or his/her designee shall designate a chairperson, who is a supervisor, to lead each committee. 6. The civilian awards committee shall be composed of at least three other civilian employees, who will be selected by the chairperson. 7. In addition to the chairperson, the LEO awards committee will consist of at least law enforcement officers of the rank of sergeant or below selected by the chairperson. 8. CHAIRPERSON OF THE AWARDS COMMITTEE: a. The primary duties of the chairperson are as follows: i. To coordinate the duties of the committee ii. To act as a liaison between the Department and Human Resources. iii. To select the committee members iv. To oversee and direct the awards program. b. The chairperson of the committee shall not vote, but will cast the deciding vote in case of a tie vote. C. CIVILIAN AWARDS: 1. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH: a. Anyone may nominate an employee by submitting a memorandum through the chain of command, detailing the particulars of an act(s), event(s), or achievement(s) for the month in which the employee is being nominated. b. Nominations should consider employees whose actions or achievements promote the Department’s Mission, Vision and Values. c. Any employee selected for the Civilian Employee of the Month award will receive one (1) day of administrative leave, a plaque, and a $25 gift certificate from the City of Boca Raton. Effective: August 10, 1999 Revised: February 10, 2016 Awards Directive No. 26.120 Page 2 of 8 2. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD: a. Any employee performing an act in the course of employment who demonstrates initiative and accomplishment, and brings acclaim to the Department and/or the City is eligible for the Distinguished Service Award. b. Any employee selected for the Distinguished Service Award will receive a plaque and one day of administrative leave from the Department. 3. HEROISM AWARD: a. Any employee who, while on or off duty, performs an outstanding act of bravery, courage, or devotion that places the employee at great personal risk and results in the saving of a life, is eligible for a Heroism Award. b. Any recipient of the Heroism Award will receive a plaque, a meritorious service bar, two days of administrative leave, and the nomination letter framed by the Department. 4. LIFESAVING AWARD: a. The Lifesaving Award will be awarded to an employee of the Department who saves the life of another person. b. An employee selected for the Lifesaving Award will receive a red medal attached to a red and white ribbon, one day of administrative leave, and a citation bar (red and white). 5. CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR: a. Each year during the month of January, the awards committee will select a recipient for the Civilian Employee of the Year Award. b. Consideration will be given to recommendations of employees who may not have been selected as a Civilian Employee of the Month, but whose accomplishments in any particular area warrant consideration. c. Employees selected for the Civilian Employee of the Year award will receive a certificate, two days of administrative leave, a plaque, a gift certificate, and a designated parking space for one year. D. LEO AWARDS: 1. OFFICER OF THE MONTH: a. Anyone may nominate an officer by submitting a memorandum through the chain of command detailing the particulars of an act(s), event(s), or achievement(s) for the month in which the officer is being nominated. Effective: August 10, 1999 Revised: February 10, 2016 Awards Directive No. 26.120 Page 3 of 8 b. Nominations should consider officers whose actions or achievements promote the Department’s mission, vision and values. c. Any officer selected for the Officer of the Month award will receive a plaque, a gift certificate, one (1) day of administrative leave, and a citation bar that he/she shall wear on his/her Class A Uniform. 2. MEDAL OF HONOR: a. The Medal of Honor is the highest recognition of officer achievement presented by the Department. b. An employee of the Department who distinguishes himself/herself with an extraordinary act of bravery or heroism which results in serious bodily harm or death to the LEO will be awarded the Medal of Honor. c. An officer awarded the Medal of Honor will receive a Medal of Honor consisting of a black ribbon with gold and green medal, three days of administrative leave, and a citation bar to be worn on his/her Class A Uniform. 3. MEDAL OF VALOR: a. The Medal of Valor will be awarded to an LEO who distinguishes himself/herself with an extraordinary act of bravery or heroism. The LEO must have displayed extreme courage by placing his/her own safety in immediate peril to provide protection or preservation of another’s life, but without unnecessarily endangering his/her own life to save the life of the one who placed the LEO at risk. b. An LEO chosen to receive the Medal of Valor will be awarded a gold and green medal attached to a green ribbon, two days of administrative leave, and a citation bar (blue with six gold stars) to be worn on his/her Class A Uniform. 4. LIFESAVING AWARD: a. The Lifesaving Award will be awarded to an employee of the Department who saves the life of another person. b. An employee selected for the Lifesaving Award will receive a red medal attached to a red and white ribbon, one day of administrative leave, and a citation bar (red and white) that he/she shall wear on the Class A Uniform. 5. WOUNDED IN COMBAT: a. The Wounded in Combat Award will be given to LEOs who are killed or injured as a direct result of a police situation. b. The Wounded in Combat Award will not be made to officers who are injured as a result of their own negligence. Effective: August 10, 1999 Revised: February 10, 2016 Awards Directive No. 26.120 Page 4 of 8 c. Reviewing authorities will recommend this award with the utmost selectivity. d. An officer selected for the Wounded in Combat Award will receive, from the Department, a green ribbon with gold stripes and a purple and gold medal, and a green citation bar with four gold bars that he/she shall wear on the Class A Uniform. 6. MERITORIOUS SERVICE: a. Any officer exhibiting outstanding initiative and achievement that results in a notable accomplishment in the line of duty is eligible for a Meritorious Service Award and will receive a green/white/blue citation bar in that he/she shall wear on his/her Class A Uniform. 7. OFFICER OF THE YEAR: a. Each year during the month of January, the LEO awards committee will select the Officer of the Year. The committee will consider LEOs whom they did not select as an Officer of the Month, but whose accomplishments in a particular area warrant consideration. b. Officers selected for the Officer of the Year award will receive a green citation bar with twelve gold stars that shall be worn on the police uniform, a certificate, two days of administrative leave, a plaque, a gift certificate, and a designated parking space for a year. E. CIVILIAN OR POLICE SPECIAL AWARDS: 1. ADMINISTRATIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD: a. Anyone may nominate an LEO or a civilian employee for the Administrative Excellence Award. b. The awards committees will recommend the Administrative Excellence Award to an employee for initiating and/or implementing a procedure or program, or improving an existing program that brings acclaim to the Department or its employees. c. Any employee selected for the Administrative Excellence Award will receive a plaque and a white and red citation bar with four gold bars that he/she shall wear on the Class A Uniform, if applicable. 2. CHIEF’S SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD: a. The chief of police will award the Chief of Police Special Recognition Award at his/her sole discretion for outstanding performance. Effective: August 10, 1999 Revised: February 10, 2016 Awards Directive No. 26.120 Page 5 of 8 b. The chief of police will decide the guidelines, criteria, and conditions of the award and when it will be presented. c. Any person selected for the Chief of Police Special Recognition Award will receive a plaque and a white ribbon with a gold medal from the Department. d. Any officer selected for the Chief of Police Special Recognition Award will receive a white citation bar that he/she shall wear on the Class A Uniform. F. UNIT COMMENDATION: 1. Recognition may be awarded to a specialized Department unit or squad whose performance excels as the direct result of a coordinated and cumulative effort of all assigned employees performing as a team. 2. All units within the Department are eligible for this award. 3. The unit will receive a plaque and each employee of the unit shall receive a blue citation bar with thin red stripes on each side and a light blue stripe in the middle that he/she shall wear on the Class A Uniform, if applicable. G. FITNESS AWARD: 1. A fitness award consisting of a light blue citation bar with two sets of red, white, and blue bars will be awarded to sworn personnel who meet or exceed the Department’s outstanding fitness standards. The citation bar may be worn on the Class A Uniform. The physical fitness coordinator shall administer the fitness award process. 2. Officers achieving a score that exceeds each absolute standard on their annual fitness tests will earn one day of administrative leave after verification from the Department’s fitness coordinator. H. OTHER RECOGNITIONS: 1. During daily contacts, supervisors will acknowledge commendable acts of community relations and services rendered by employees, as well as acts by local citizens in support of employees. 2. Supervisors may award commendations to employees once the division commander approves the honor through the chain of command. 3. Supervisors shall forward copies of all commendation letters to the Professional Standards Bureau and the Department and Human Resources personnel files. 4. Citizen and other City department commendations shall be forwarded to the Office of the Chief of Police to be handled as follows: a. A letter thanking the citizen or a memorandum to the City department will be prepared and signed by the chief of police Effective: August 10, 1999 Revised: February 10, 2016 Awards Directive No. 26.120 Page 6 of 8 b. The original commendation and a copy of the chief of police's correspondence in response to the citizen or City department shall be forwarded to the officer or civilian c. A copy of the original commendation will be routed to supervisory personnel d. Copies of the original commendation and the chief of police’s response will be placed in the Human Resource and the Department personnel files. I. CITIZEN RECOGNITION: 1. The Department and the City acknowledge the need to recognize citizens for providing assistance to law enforcement, e.g., the identification of a suspect that leads to an arrest, a courageous act of heroism, or saving a life. 2. Citizens may be recommended for awards in accordance with the following criteria: a. Outstanding bravery or courage in protecting life or property, preventing criminal acts, or apprehending criminals b. Performance in the presence of extreme and life-threatening personal danger c. Performance above the ordinary. 3. Any Department employee may initiate an award recommendation for persons not employed by the Department. a. The Department employee making the citizen’s nomination shall forward it through the chain of command to the Chairperson of the Awards Committee. b. Recommendations for citizen awards shall be submitted in writing and contain the information required above for employee awards. 4. Award recommendations for persons not employed by the Department shall not be discussed outside the Department, unless approved by the chief of police or after any public announcement through the Public Information Office. J. RETIREE RECOGNITION: 1. The Department will recognize employees who have honorably served the City by presenting eligible employees with a retirement ID card and plaque on the Wall of Honor. In addition, LEOs shall receive a shadow box and civilians shall receive a plaque. 2. Retiree recognition will be given in accordance with the following criteria: Effective: August 10, 1999 Revised: February 10, 2016 Awards Directive No. 26.120 Page 7 of 8 a. Any employee who retired honorably after serving a minimum of 20 credited years b. Any employee who was killed in the line of duty or retired due to injuries received in the line of duty c. K. Any other employee approved by the chief of police. AWARDS PRESENTATIONS: 1. The awards committees will convene in a timely manner so the award recipients can receive their awards at the next Department Performance Roundtable. 2. The chairperson of the Awards Committee shall arrange citizen award presentations. The chief of police or his/her designee will present citizen awards. 3. The following criteria will govern the display of award insignia: a. Officers will be permitted to wear only one citation bar of each type of award on their Class A Uniforms. b. Officers receiving multiple awards for the same act, event, or achievement will receive a ribbon with a number in the center corresponding to the number of times the officer has received that award. c. A gold star shall be given for any award received ten or more times. d. Recipients will wear all award ribbons above the nametag as displayed in Appendix A and in accordance with Departmental Standards Directive 26.200 Appearance of Personnel. L. ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE: 1. Administrative leave given as a result of an award shall be redeemed within one year from receipt of the award. Approved: Daniel C. Alexander Chief of Police Effective: August 10, 1999 Revised: February 10, 2016 Date: Awards Directive No. 26.120 Page 8 of 8