Missouri Department of Public Safety News Release

JEREMIAH W. (JAY) NIXON, GOVERNOR

Contact:

JERRY LEE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY

News Release ID: N01120003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEFFERSON CITY

March 06, 2012

March 31 deadline is approaching for nominations for Missouri's highest award for public safety officers

Medal of Valor nominations must be received or postmarked by March 31 deadline

The deadline is quickly approaching for nominations for Missouri's Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor award, honoring extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty by public safety officers. The nomination deadline for recognition of acts of valor during 2011 is March 31, 2012.

The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor is awarded annually to public safety officers who exhibit "exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind, and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her own personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life."

Eight Medals of Valor were awarded last year for actions in 2010. Eligible individuals must be serving a public agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter, law enforcement officer or emergency personnel. State and local corrections, court and civil defense officers are also eligible.

The Department of Public Safety will receive applications and forward them to the Missouri Medal of Valor Review Board. Applications are available on the DPS Web site in the "Popular Links" section at: www.dps.mo.gov.  Because original signatures are required, applications must be printed and mailed to:

State of Missouri, MO DPS
Medal of Valor Review Board
301 West High Street, Room 870
Jefferson City, MO 65102

For more information, call (573) 751-4819 or e-mail mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov