Honors Arizona’s Heroic Public Safety Officers and First Responders
PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey has issued an executive order creating the Arizona Medal of Valor, an award that will recognize and honor the public safety officers and first responders who put their lives on the line to protect the safety of Arizonans.
The Arizona Medal of Valor honors those serving in an official capacity at an Arizona public agency as a peace officer, firefighter, first responder or other law enforcement capacity, including a correctional officer, who engaged in an extraordinary act of valor, courageousness or heroism while on the job.
“Every day Arizona’s law enforcement personnel and first responders take risks and face dangers to protect public safety and keep the peace, and our state is grateful for their bravery in the line of duty,” said Governor Ducey. “Too often we take their sacrifice for granted, and we should all feel inspired to share our appreciation for them daily. The Arizona Medal of Valor is another way to honor them for their courageousness and heroism.”
Specifically, the executive order calls for:
1. The creation of the Arizona Medal of Valor to honor a person (living or deceased) who engaged in an act of extraordinary valor, courageousness or heroism while serving in an official capacity at an Arizona public agency as a peace officer, firefighter, first responder or in a law enforcement capacity, including correctional officers.
2. The governor shall appoint all members of the Arizona Medal of Valor Review Board which shall consist of:
a. A member of the Arizona Governor’s office
b. The Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety
c. The Director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Management
d. The Chairman of the Arizona Peace Personnel Standards and Training Board
e. An Arizona Police Chief, who shall serve a term of two years
f. An Arizona Fire Chief, from a county in Arizona other than the county represented by the Police Chief member, who shall serve a term of two years
3. Within 30 days of this order, the Department of Public Safety shall:
a. Develop nominating criteria for proposed recipients of the Arizona Medal of Valor.
b. Develop a process and timeline for Arizona Medal of Valor nominations to be submitted to the review board. Nominations shall only be submitted by the Governor, the Director of the nominee’s employing Arizona public agency, or by the Arizona Medal of Valor Review Board.
