When public safety officers or citizens provide valuable help during emergencies - which sometimes means saving lives - they often do so with disregard for their own safety. And they certainly don't do it for their own honor.
But they deserve to be honored, and the Missouri Department of Public Safety is establishing a mechanism to do so.
DPS will present four new awards to Missouri public safety officers who provide exemplary service to the public, along with a new award for civilians who come to the assistance of public safety officers and provide valuable assistance during emergency situations.
DPS Director Drew Juden said in a news release the state's public safety officers selflessly sacrifice their own safety to serve and protect their fellow citizens.
Since 2008, Missouri's governor has awarded the Medal of Valor, which will remain the state's highest award recognizing public safety officers.
The new Department of Public Safety awards announced this week are:
- The Public Safety Medal of Merit. This medal honors an individual's brave actions above and beyond the call of normal duty, that play a critical role in successfully resolving a situation that endangers public safety.
- The Governor's Medal. This medal honors an organized team of public safety officers' brave actions above and beyond the normal call of duty during a critical situation in which their teamwork was essential to the successful resolution of the situation.
- The Director's Leadership Medal. This medal honors an individual at the command or staff level whose community activities have promoted greater safety, security, and cooperation for community members through programs, relationship-building, or collaboration.
- The Public Safety Civilian Partnership Award. This award honors a civilian who provided valuable or courageous assistance to public safety officers in an emergency situation, without regard for their own personal welfare.
- The Hall of Fame Award. This award honors a senior or retired public safety professional whose distinguished career serves as a model of exceptional courage, service, fairness, and compassion, and whose devotion of talents, time, and resources has improved the safety and security of Missouri's citizens.
Nominations for the five new DPS awards, along with the Medal of Valor, now are open, and must be postmarked by May 26. For additional information, go to dps.mo.gov/medal/.
We welcome the new awards. Honoring those who go above the call of duty when serving us during emergencies is a noble effort.