§2214. Public safety awards

(a) Establishment

There are hereby established two classes of honorary awards for the recognition of outstanding and distinguished service by public safety officers-

(1) the President's Award For Outstanding Public Safety Service ("President's Award"); and

(2) the Director's Award For Distinguished Public Safety Service ("Director's Award").

(b) Description

(1) The President's Award shall be presented by the President of the United States to public safety officers for extraordinary valor in the line of duty or for outstanding contribution to public safety.

(2) The Director's Award shall be presented by the Director or by the Attorney General to public safety officers for distinguished service in the field of public safety.

(c) Selection

The Director and the Attorney General shall advise and assist the President in the selection of individuals to whom the President's Award shall be tendered and in the course of performing such duties they shall seek and review nominations for such awards which are submitted to them by Federal, State, county, and local government officials. They shall annually transmit to the President the names of those individuals determined by them to merit the award, together with the reasons therefor. Recipients of the President's Award shall be selected by the President.

(d) Limitation on number of awards

(1) There shall not be presented in any one calendar year in excess of twelve President's Awards.

(2) There shall be no limitation on the number of Director's Awards presented.

(e) Award

(1) Each President's Award shall consist of-

(A) a medal suitably inscribed, bearing such devices and emblems, and struck from such material as the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Director and the Attorney General deems appropriate. The Secretary of the Treasury shall cause the medal to be struck and furnished to the President; and

(B) an appropriate citation.

(2) Each Director's Award shall consist of an appropriate citation.

(f) Regulations

The Director and the Attorney General are authorized and directed to issue jointly such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.

(g) "Public safety officer" defined

As used in this section, the term "public safety officer" means a person serving a public agency, with or without compensation, as-

(1) a firefighter;

(2) a law enforcement officer, including a corrections or court officer; or

(3) a civil defense officer.

( Pub. L. 93–498, §15, Oct. 29, 1974, 88 Stat. 1544 ; Pub. L. 98–241, title II, §202, Mar. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 96 ; Pub. L. 106–503, title I, §110(a)(2)(B)(iv), (v), (C), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2302 .)

Amendments

2000-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 106–503, §110(a)(2)(C), substituted "Director's" for "Secretary's" in two places.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 106–503, §110(a)(2)(B)(iv), (C), substituted "Director's" for "Secretary's" and "Director" for "Secretary".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–503, §110(a)(2)(B)(iv), substituted "Director" for "Secretary".

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 106–503, §110(a)(2)(C), substituted "Director's" for "Secretary's".

Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 106–503, §110(a)(2)(B)(v), substituted "with the Director" for "with the Secretary".

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 106–503, §110(a)(2)(C), substituted "Director's" for "Secretary's".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 106–503, §110(a)(2)(B)(iv), substituted "Director" for "Secretary".

1984-Subsecs. (b)(2), (c), (e)(1)(A), (f). Pub. L. 98–241 struck out ", the Secretary of Defense," after "Secretary" wherever appearing.

Transfer of Functions

Functions of National Fire Prevention and Control Administration [now United States Fire Administration] and National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control generally transferred to Federal Emergency Management Agency. For further details see Transfer of Functions note set out under section 2202 of this title.

Ex. Ord. No. 13161. Establishment of the Presidential Medal of Valor for Public Safety Officers

Ex. Ord. No. 13161, June 29, 2000, 65 F.R. 41543, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is ordered:

Section 1. The Presidential Medal of Valor for Public Safety Officers (Medal) is established for the purpose of recognizing those public safety officers adjudged to have shown extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty in the exercise of their official duties. As used in this section, the term "public safety officer" means a person serving a public agency with or without compensation:

(1) as a law enforcement officer, including police, correctional, probation, or parole officers;

(2) as a firefighter or emergency responder; and

(3) who is employed by the Government of the United States, any State of the United States, any officially recognized elective body within a State of the United States, or any Federally recognized tribal organization.

Sec. 2. Eligible recipients generally will be recommended to the President by the Attorney General by April 1 of each year. Pursuant to 36 U.S.C. 136–137, the President designates May 15 of each year as "Peace Officers Memorial Day" and the week in which it falls as "Police Week." Presentation of the Medal shall occur at an appropriate time during the commemoration of Police Week, as far as is practicable.

Sec. 3. The President may select for the Medal up to ten persons annually from among those persons recommended to the President by the Attorney General. In submitting recommendations to the President, the Attorney General may consult with experts representing all segments of the public safety sector, including representatives from law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency services.

Sec. 4. Those chosen for recognition shall receive a medal and a certificate, the designs of which shall be submitted by the Attorney General for the President's approval no later than December 1, 2000. The medal and certificate shall be prepared by the Department of Justice.

Sec. 5. The Medal may be given posthumously.

William J. Clinton.