The nomination period for the 2014-2015 Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor opens May 29, 2015. This medal is the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer, and is awarded to public safety officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.
An act of valor is defined as above and beyond the call of duty and exhibiting exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and presence of mind and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life.
Public safety officers must be nominated by the chief executive officer of their employing agencies; recommended by the bipartisan Medal of Valor Review Board; and cited by the Attorney General. Nominations must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 31, 2015. For more information, visit the Medal of Valor website at https://www.bja.gov/programs/medalofvalor/index.html.