DEPUTY AWARDS PROGRAM
The Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association
The purpose of the BSSA’s Awards Program is to recognize actions performed by members of the Sheriff’s command in the State of Ohio. The Awards and Public Relations Committee of the BSSA receives recommendations from the Sheriff of an Ohio County. The committee then decides to award various medals of recognition based on an evaluation of the merits of each particular case. Local awards are to be presented at an appropriate occasion or ceremony within that community.
The Deputy of the Year award is to be awarded by the Sheriff of each county based on the office’s own criteria of a certified Peace Officer.
The Safe Driving Award is to be awarded to those officers whose driving practices have exhibited sufficient ability to avoid chargeable accidents.
INDIVIDUAL COMMENDATION: May be presented to law enforcement officers or civilian personnel who have performed efficient and valuable service to the office, either in carrying out a specific task or in the performance of general duties over an extended period of time. SHERIFF’S OFFICE COMMENDATION: May be awarded in recognition of outstanding law enforcement services performed by an office unit; may be presented in addition to an individual award growing out of the same action.
The Lifesaving Award is to be awarded to an officer for saving a human life. Intended for all officers directly responsible for the saving of a human life. Documentation and other supportive evidence such as statements from physicians, witnesses and/or supervisory officers should be included with the original recommendation. If an officer’s actions led to the prolonging of life to the extent that the victim was released to the care of medical authorities, he/she is eligible to receive this award even though the victim may expire at a later time.
The Award of Valor may be awarded to commissioned officers or other uniformed employees who sustain serious injury in the line of duty. The commissioned officer or uniformed employee must have been actively engaged in a police activity at the time of injury and it must be of sufficient gravity to require professional medical treatment. The Award of Valor is primarily intended to recognize officers who are injured as a result of felonious assaults, but the Sheriff’s Office may also consider other injuries resulting from fires, explosions, etc., as valid justifications. The Sheriff’s Office should not consider injuries sustained from falls on ice, motor vehicle accidents, etc. The Sheriff’s Office must not consider any injuries sustained as a result of or concurrent with any conduct by the injured officer which is less than fully acceptable by all standards.
The Certificate of Merit is to be awarded to a Sheriff’s Office employee for:
1. Outstanding performance of duty under unusual or difficult conditions. The action need not involve exposure to physical danger, but must involve the protection of life, or property, and involve unusual thoroughness, conscientiousness, determination and initiative.
2. Meritorious action of a nature which would not be eligible for a higher award.
3. To an officer of another law enforcement agency if earned while aiding, assisting or working in conjunction with an officer of the awarding office.
**The Certificate of Merit should not be awarded in conjunction with any other award for the same service or deed.
The Office Citation is to be awarded to a Sheriff’s Office employee for:
1. Outstanding performance of a difficult task involving personal risk to the officer’s safety when, because of the officer’s actions, a serious crime is prevented or the perpetrator is apprehended.
2. Outstanding contributions to law enforcement through the success of difficult law enforcement programs, projects or situations, such contributions being made, a high degree of professional excellence.
3. Other outstanding actions of a nature which bring unusual credit to the office and it’s members.