Awards of the Los Angeles Police Department

This is the list and description for all of the medals and service awards the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) can award to its officers.

Personnel are encouraged to wear ribbons at formal events (e.g. memorial services, funerals, inspections, and graduations). Ribbons worn on the uniform shirt shall be affixed below the badge, just above the left breast pocket.

Per the LAPD manual, the ribbons shall be centered above the left breast pocket below the badge extending toward the wearers left in descending order of precedence with the bottom row on the seam. Three ribbons shall constitute a complete row. Officers with a significant number of ribbons (10 or more) are allowed to expand the number of ribbons in their complete row to 4 ribbons. Precedence of rows shall be top to bottom. Additional rows shall also extend toward the wearers left in descending order of precedence. An incomplete row shall be the top row with its ribbons centered on the complete row(s) beneath.

When an employee receives the same award more than once, the second and subsequent awards shall be indicated by a bronze oakleaf cluster worn on the original ribbon. A silver oakleaf cluster will be worn in lieu of five bronze clusters.

Medals

Awards for Bravery

Ribbon	Award name and description
	Medal of Valor The Medal of Valor is the highest law enforcement medal awarded to officers and it is awarded for individual acts of extraordinary bravery or heroism performed in the line of duty at extreme and life-threatening personal risk.
	Preservation of Life Medal The Preservation of Life Medal may be awarded to an officer who has distinguished himself or herself by employing exceptional tactics and exercising sound judgment, beyond the normal demands of duty, to preserve the life of another during a volatile or dangerous encounter while protecting the safety and security of the public and his or her fellow officers.
	Police Medal The Police Medal is an award for bravery, usually awarded to officers for individual acts of heroism in the line of duty, though not above and beyond the call of duty, as is required for the Medal of Valor.
	Police Star The Police Star is an award for bravery, usually awarded to officers for performing with exceptional judgment and/or utilizing skillful tactics in order to defuse dangerous and stressful situations.
	Lifesaving Medal The Lifesaving Medal is an award for bravery, usually awarded to officers for taking action in order to rescue or attempt the rescue of either a fellow officer or any person from imminent danger.

Awards for Service

Ribbon	Award name
	Police Distinguished Service Medal The Police Distinguished Service Medal is the department's highest award for service and may be awarded to employees who distinguish themselves by performing exceptional service in a duty of great responsibility or of critical importance to law enforcement.
	Police Meritorious Service Medal The Police Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to employees who distinguish themselves by performing exceptional service in a duty of great responsibility or of critical importance to law enforcement, but to a lesser degree than required for the Police Distinguished Service Medal.
	Police Meritorious Achievement Medal The Police Meritorious Achievement Medal is primarily designed for the recognition of civilian employees. The medal is awarded for either sustained, long-term, noteworthy achievement or a single significant, noteworthy achievement in the execution of administrative, clerical, or craft-type duties.
	Police Commission Distinguished Service Medal The Police Commission Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to officers who distinguish themselves by performing exceptional service to the LAPD or by performing in a stressful emergency situation with good judgement and bravery.
	Police Commission Integrity Medal The Police Commission Integrity Medal is awarded to employees who display an act of exemplary integrity, especially when that act requires exceptional character, fortitude, and moral courage in the face of substantial obstacles. NOTE: No longer issued. Developed after the Rampart scandal, it was hoped that it would encourage officers to report wrongdoings in order to keep corruption out. To qualify, information provided by the recipient had to result in an LAPD employee being brought to justice. The medal quickly became known as the "Rat Ribbon" and nobody wanted to accept it.
	Community Policing Medal The Community Policing Medal is awarded to personnel who have solved a significant community problem, included the community in the problem solving process, and/or shown a commitment to the LAPD's Community Policing philosophy.
	Human Relations Medal The Human Relations Medal is awarded to officers who have in their day‑to‑day activities shown great compassion and have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their response to fellow human beings.

Unit Citations

Ribbon	Award name
	Police Commission Unit Citation The Police Commission Unit Citation is the department's highest unit award and may be awarded to an organizational unit of the department for bravery or outstanding service by its members functioning as a team.
	Police Meritorious Unit Citation The Police Meritorious Unit Citation may be awarded to an organizational unit of the department for bravery or outstanding service by its members functioning as a team, but to a lesser degree than required for the Police Commission Unit Citation.

Ribbons

Commendations

Ribbon	Award name and description
	Commendation Ribbon A commendation ribbon will be authorized to wear after a sworn employee has received 40 commendations. Citizen letters, minor and major commendations will be counted towards the ribbon.
	Commendation Ribbon (with Bronze Star) A commendation ribbon (with Bronze Star) will be authorized to wear after a sworn employee has received 80 commendations. Citizen letters, minor and major commendations will be counted towards the ribbon.
	Commendation Ribbon (with Silver Star) A commendation ribbon (with Silver Star) will be authorized to wear after a sworn employee has received 120 commendations. Citizen letters, minor and major commendations will be counted towards the ribbon.
	Commendation Ribbon (with Gold Star) A commendation ribbon (with Gold Star) will be authorized to wear after a sworn employee has received 160 commendations. Citizen letters, minor and major commendations will be counted towards the ribbon.

Service

Ribbon	Award name and description
	Patrol Service Ribbon 5 years of service in patrol services as a Police Officer, Sergeant and/or Lieutenant.
	Patrol Service Ribbon (with Bronze Oak Leaf cluster) 10 years of service in patrol services as a Police Officer, Sergeant and/or Lieutenant.
	Patrol Service Ribbon (with Silver Star) 15 years of service in patrol services as a Police Officer, Sergeant and/or Lieutenant.
	Patrol Service Ribbon (with Gold Star) 20 years of service in patrol services as a Police Officer, Sergeant and/or Lieutenant.
	Detective Service Ribbon 5 years of service in investigative units as a Detective and/or Lieutenant.
	Detective Service Ribbon (with Bronze Oak Leaf cluster) 10 years of service in investigative units as a Detective and/or Lieutenant.
	Detective Service Ribbon (with Silver Star) 15 years of service in investigative units as a Detective and/or Lieutenant.
	Detective Service Ribbon (with Gold Star) 20 years of service in investigative units as a Detective and/or Lieutenant.
	Reserve Service Ribbon Awarded for 4000 hours of service as a Reserve Police officer.
	Reserve Exceptional Service Ribbon (Division) Awarded to Reserve Officers who have been named the Reserve Officer of the Year of their Area/Division.
	Reserve Exceptional Service Ribbon (Bureau) Awarded to Reserve Officers who have been named the Reserve Officer of the Year of their Bureau.
	Reserve Exceptional Service Ribbon (Department) Awarded to Reserve Officers who have been named the Reserve Officer of the Year of the entire Los Angeles Police Department.

Events

Ribbon	Award name and description
	1984 Summer Olympics Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 1984 Summer Olympics from July 28 to August 12, 1984.
	1987 Papal Visit Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the September 1987 pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II.
	1992 Civil Emergency Response Ribbon (originally known as 1992 Civil Disturbance Ribbon) Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 1992 Los Angeles riots from April 29 to May 4, 1992.
	1994 Earthquake Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 1994 Northridge earthquake from January 17 to January 18, 1994.
	2000 Democratic National Convention Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
	2019 150th Anniversary Ribbon The 150th Anniversary Ribbon is authorized to wear by uniformed employees who were members of the LAPD from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.

Weapon Qualifications

Ribbon	Award name and description
	Urban Police Rifle Cadre Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who is qualified to use a Urban Police Rifle (usually an AR-15 variant chambered in .223).
	Shotgun Slug Ammunition Cadre Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who is qualified to use slug ammunition in LAPD issued shotguns.
	Distinguished Expert Marksmanship Badge Officers must score 2,310 out of a possible 2,400 points in a consecutive six‑month period in the voluntary bonus qualification shoots (held every month). Officers who have qualified as Distinguished Experts receive $64 in compensation in their bi-weekly paychecks.
	Expert Marksmanship Badge Officers must score 380 out of a possible 400 points in the voluntary bonus qualification shoots (held every month). Officers who have qualified as Experts receive $32 in compensation in their bi-weekly paychecks.
	Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge Officers must score 340 out of a possible 400 points in the voluntary bonus qualification shoots (held every month). Officers who have qualified as Sharpshooters receive $16 in compensation in their bi-weekly paychecks.
	Marksman Marksmanship Badge Officers must score 300 out of a possible 400 points in the voluntary bonus qualification shoots (held every month). Officers who have qualified as Marksmen receive $8 in compensation in their bi-weekly paychecks.

Other

Ribbon	Award name and description
	Purple Heart Awarded to officers who sustain a traumatic physical injury as a result of a suspect's actions during an on-duty tactical situation. Can also be awarded posthumously to officers who die in the line of duty as a direct result of a suspect's actions.

Order of Precedence

The order of precedence for LAPD issued awards is:

• Medal of Valor
• Preservation of Life Medal
• Police Distinguished Service Medal
• Police Commission Unit Citation
• Police Medal
• Purple Heart
• Police Meritorious Service Medal
• Police Meritorious Achievement Medal
• Police Meritorious Unit Citation
• Police Star
• Lifesaving Medal
• Police Commission Distinguished Service Medal
• Police Commission Integrity Medal
• Community Policing Medal
• Human Relations Medal
• Commendation Ribbon
• Reserve Exceptional Service Ribbon
• Patrol Service Ribbon
• Detective Service Ribbon
• Reserve Officer Service Ribbon
• 1984 Olympic Ribbon
• 1987 Papal Visit Ribbon
• 1992 Civil Emergency Response Ribbon
• 1994 Earthquake Ribbon
• 2000 Democratic National Convention Ribbon
• 2019 150th Anniversary Ribbon
• Urban Police Rifle Cadre Ribbon
• Shotgun Slug Ammunition Cadre Ribbon

When Departmental ribbons are worn in conjunction with military ribbons and/or ribbons awarded by outside governmental agencies, the order of precedence is:

• United States Government awards
• Foreign Government awards
• State Government awards
• LAPD awards
• Other City Department awards

Known ribbon racks

Chief Thomas Delk

Chief Will Pope

Assistant Chief Russell Taylor

Assistant Chief Leo Mason

Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson

Captain Sharon Raydor

Lieutenant Louie Provenza

Lieutenant Andy Flynn

Lieutenant Michael Tao

Detective Julio Sanchez

Detective David Gabriel

Detective Amy Sykes

Detective Wes Nolan

Detective Camila Paige

Ranked based on number of awards:

1. Lt. Louie Provenza: 14 awards
2. Asst. Chief Leo Mason and Det. Julio Sanchez: 11 awards
3. Lt. Michael Tao: 9 awards
4. Chief Thomas Delk and Chief Will Pope: 8 awards
5. Asst. Chief Russell Taylor and Lt. Andy Flynn: 7 awards
6. Capt. Sharon Raydor, Det. Amy Sykes, and Det. Wes Nolan: 5 awards
7. Dep. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, Det. David Gabriel, and Det. Camila Paige: 3 awards

Notes

In the Major Crimes Universe, when the main characters are seen in their uniforms, the correct order of precedence for their awards is not followed. The closest the show(s) came to getting the order right was in “By Any Means, Part 1” although even then there were some mistakes. Also, in “By Any Means, Part 1”, the detectives wore their incomplete ribbon rows on the bottom of their ribbon rack rather than on top.

During the earlies season of The Closer, even the ribbons itself were shown to be generic prop ribbons, not matching anything the LAPD has issued in the past or currently.

---