Award ribbons -
Top row - Lambert Tree Award for Bravery
2nd row - Police medal, Award of Valor
3rd row - 100 Club, Superintendent's Award of Merit, Police Blue Star
4th row - Police Blue Shield, Arnold Mireles Special Partnership, Special Commendation
5th row - Lifesaving, Officer of the Month, Department Commendation
6th row - Military Deployment, Problem Solving, Honorable Mention
7th row - Joint Operations, Unit Meritorious, CAPS
Bottom - 1996 Democratic National Convention, Crime Reduction, Outside Recognition
These ribbons are arranged from top to bottom in their order of importance.
Lambert Tree was a circuit judge in the late 1800s who, along with Mayor Carter Harrison, established
a fund for awards to police officers and firefighters. The awards were established by city ordinance on November
9, 1885. The Lambert Tree/Carter Harrison awards are the highest honors that can be awarded to Chicago police officers
and firefighters by the departments. Note that the Lambert Tree item shown above is a metal bar instead of a cloth ribbon.
The Police Medal is an award presented by the Superintendent to recipients of the Award of Valor,
Award of Merit, the Blue Star Award or the Police Blue Shield when, in the Superintendent's judgment, the accomplishments
or performance of the individual member was so outstanding as to justify additional recognition.
The Award of Valor (pictured below) is granted to any member for an act of outstanding bravery and
heroism by which the recipient has demonstrated in great degree the characteristics of selflessness, personal courage
and devotion to duty.
The Blue Star (pictured below) is an award granted to an officer who has been seriously, critically,
or fatally injured while in direct performance of police duty. It may also be conferred if the injury was averted by
the wearing of body armor.
The Blue Shield award is granted to a sworn member who, as a result of accidental cause, has
been seriously, critically or fatally injured while in the performance of police duty.
The Hundred Club Valor Award was established in 1980 by the Hundred Club of Cook County and may be
given to police officers and firefighters within Cook County. It is the only civilian medal authorized for use on the
uniform.
The Superintendent's Award of Merit is granted for an outstanding accomplishment which has resulted
in improved administration, improved operation or substantial savings in manpower or operation costs.
The Arnold Mireles award is for officers and others whose actions have improved the quality of life
in their communities. Mr. Mireles was a 35-year-old community activist who was murdered because of his efforts
in December 1997.
The Special Commendation is given to officers who have significantly improved public safety and crime
prevention.
The Military Deployment ribbon was first awarded to 88 officers on May 25, 2005.
CAPS refers to Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy.
There is also the Richard J. Daley Medal of Honor which is an award presented by the Superintendent
in memory of Mayor Richard J. Daley's outstanding service and dedication to the citizens of Chicago. This award is presented
to an individual whose accomplishments or contributed services have brought credit to the City of Chicago and/or the Chicago
Police Department.
There are other ribbons not yet pictured above; these are pictured below. These next 7
pictures are from ChicagoCop.com, a web site more fully explained below; used here by permission.
Note that I still need the actual medals described here.
