(a) The commission shall issue achievement awards to
qualified peace officers, reserve law enforcement officers, jailers,
or telecommunicators licensed by the commission and, hereinafter,
will be referred to as the nominees. A nominee for the achievement
award must meet the following criteria:
(1) must have maintained, on a continuous basis, an
average job performance during the individual's employment or appointment;
(2) must have exhibited relevant characteristics of
the following:
(A) valor - an act of personal heroism or bravery which
exceeds the normal expectations of job performance, such as placing
one's own life in jeopardy to save another person's life, prevent
serious bodily injury to another, or prevent the consequences of a
criminal act;
(B) public service - when an individual, through initiative,
creates or participates in a program or system which has a significant
positive impact on the general population of a community which would
exceed the normal expectations of job performance; or
(C) professional achievement - when an individual,
through personal initiative, fixity of purpose, persistence, or endeavor,
creates a program or system which has a significant positive impact
on the law enforcement profession which would exceed the normal expectations
of job performance;
(3) must have held a license at the time the qualifying
act was performed;
(4) shall not ever have had a license suspended, revoked,
cancelled, or voluntarily surrendered; and
(5) must not be in violation of Occupations Code, Chapter
1701 or rules of the commission.
(b) The nominations/recommendations for the achievement
awards shall be filed as follows:
(1) received by the commission on or before December
31st of each year;
(2) must have been submitted by one of the following:
(A) an elected official of the state;
(B) an elected official of a political subdivision;
(C) an administrator of a law enforcement agency; or
(D) any person holding a current license issued by
the commission; and
(3) shall be supported by acceptable evidence of the
nominee's qualifications for the award. Such evidence may consist
of evaluations, police reports, newspaper clippings, eyewitness accounts,
or other valid, confirmable evidence, consisting of certified copies
of documents and sworn affidavits.
(c) A committee shall be appointed by the executive
director for the purpose of reviewing recommendations. Upon completion
of the review, the committee will forward to the executive director
nominees for consideration. The executive director will provide a
list to the commissioners who will then make the final determination
of who merits awards at a regularly scheduled meeting.
(d) The effective date of this section is February
1, 2014.
|