The Medal of Valor is the Los Angeles Police Department’s highest honor and is awarded to officers who distinguish themselves by conspicuous bravery or heroism above and beyond the normal demands of police service. To be awarded the Medal of Valor, an officer would have performed an act displaying extreme courage while consciously facing imminent peril.
The medal is awarded by the Board of Police Commissioners and is presented by the Chief of Police in the name of the Department at the annual Medal of Valor awards ceremony. The award consists of a medal, ribbon, and citation. The Medal of Valor was first presented in 1925, and the awards ceremony is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Los Angeles Police Foundation.