Sioux Falls Police Service Awards: Medal of Honor: The Medal of Honor is the highest award presented by the Sioux Falls Police Department to members of the department.

• The Medal of Honor is awarded to an officer for an act that involves extreme risk to the officer’s life, which is performed above and beyond the call of duty.
• The Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously to an officer who loses his life in the performance of their duty under honorable circumstances.
• If an officer uses poor judgment that created the necessity for his actions, he will not be eligible for this award.
• The Medal of Honor is a red/white/blue bar with the word “Honor” in the center in gold, centered on the left shirt pocket flap on the seam.

Medal of Merit: The Medal of Merit is the second highest award presented by the Sioux Falls Police Department to members of the department.

• The Medal of Merit is awarded to an officer for an act that saves a human life or for valiant life-saving efforts, even though the victim may perish.
• The act must involve a high degree of risk to the life of the officer, but under conditions less hazardous than those constituting Medal of Honor actions.
• The Medal of Merit is a blue/white/blue bar with the word “Merit” in the center in gold, centered on the left shirt pocket flap on the seam.

Blue Star Medal: The Blue Star Medal is awarded to Sioux Falls Police Department officers who receive a wound or injury of a serious nature capable of causing death or extended disability.

• To qualify for this award, the wound or injury must have been caused by the deliberate actions of another, in an attempt to cause injury to the officer, some other person, or property, or in the attempted apprehension of said person, reporting officer in an attempt to save a human life, placing oneself in immediate danger.
• The Blue Star Medal is a blue bar with a gold star in the center, centered on the left shirt pocket flap on the seam.

Chief’s Commendation: The Chief’s Commendation is awarded to an officer for exceptional performance in a duty of great responsibility, or of critical importance to law enforcement.

• Such service shall be clearly above that normally expected, and shall have contributed significantly to the success of a major project, field operation, or investigation.
• The award will be in the form of a certificate.

Division Commendation: The Division Commendation is awarded to an officer who distinguishes themselves by an act or achievement that is beyond the normal performance of members of that division, and reflects well upon the department.

• Such service shall be clearly above that normally expected of an officer of the department.
• The award will be in the form of a certificate.

Life Saving Award: To qualify for this award, an officer must be credited with taking physical action that results in a life being saved from certain death and there is no danger to the officer’s life. Typically, these incidents will involve, but are not limited to, CPR, AED usage, Heimlich maneuver, etc., and will generally fall outside the realm of other listed service recognition categories.

• The Life Saving Bar shall be as shown a white bar with a red panel on each end and a blue cross in the middle, centered on the left shirt pocket flap, on the seam.