TheNew York City Police Department presentsmedals to its members for meritorious service.[1] The medals the NYPD awards are as follows (from highest precedence to lowest):
The Medal of Honor (solid green bar speckled tiny gold stars) is awarded for:
Individual acts of extraordinary bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent and personal danger to life. Specifically, the Department Medal of Honor is awarded for acts of gallantry and valor performed with knowledge of the risk involved, above and beyond the call of duty. A second award is denoted by a gold leaf. It is the highest honor in the New York City Police Department.
The Police Combat Cross (solid green bar) is awarded for:
Members who have successfully and intelligently performed an act of extraordinary heroism, while engaged in personal combat with an armed adversary under circumstances of imminent personal hazard to life. A second award is denoted by a gold leaf.
The Medal for Valor (solid blue bar) is awarded for:
Acts of outstanding personal bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent personal hazard to life under circumstances evincing a disregard of personal consequences. A second award is denoted by a gold leaf.
The department awards the Distinguished Service Medal posthumously to members of the service who suffer death as a result of illnesses associated with duty performed under unusual hazard or demand. It was first awarded in 2008.
Once reserved to any NYPD officer who was in active service during, or worked details related to the follow up on, theSeptember 11 attacks, it has been updated to allow any NYPD Police Officer, at their discretion, to wear the bar in honor and remembrance. It is affixed just below the American Flag Breast Bar and above any other medal.
May be worn by any NYPD officer who has been certified or recertified as an expert shooter with their police firearm. It is affixed just above the shield and below any other medal.
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