Adopted on March 18, 1999, Revised on June 15, 2005

The Governor's Public Safety Awards Program was initiated by Governor Zell Miller in 1998 in order to provide an opportunity for the men and women of Georgia's public safety community to be recognized for outstanding service to the citizens of Georgia. As per Governor Miller, While we have appropriately honored those who have fallen in the line of duty, I would like to establish a program that honors those who by virtue of their personal integrity and determination make public safety the respectable profession it is. To this end, the Governor's Public Safety Awards Program recognizes (1) those men and women who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Georgia and (2) those who have made significant contributions to their profession.

Eligibility

To be nominated for an award in the GPSA program:

• The Nominee must be an employee or an official volunteer of a bonafide public safety organization.
• The Nominee must have engaged in above and beyond the call of duty activity in one or both of the Award Categories.
• The Nomination can be made by an individual, agency, association, or citizen, and must be submitted by mail to the Public Safety Awards Committee % Georgia Public Safety Training Center , 1000 Indian Springs Drive , Forsyth , GA 31029 .
• The Nominee shall be free of any pending disciplinary actions.

Award Categories

Two categories of awards will be established. The first will recognize Acts of Heroism or Outstanding Deeds which resulted in the protection of life and/or property, while the second recognizes Outstanding Job Performance which serves to enhance the public safety profession. These categories are not intended to recognize employees for merely doing a good job, or responding to a call, but to recognize employees who actually go beyond the ordinary to protect Georgia 's citizens and property, or who contribute significantly to the public safety profession.

Selection

Recipients, may be selected for each of the following public safety groups:

• Emergency Management
• Municipal & County Police
• County Law Enforcement
• Fire Service
• 911/Communications
• Emergency Medical Service
• State Public Safety Agencies
• Prosecuting Attorneys

Selection of individual recipients from each group will be the responsibility of the Public Safety Awards Committee. Selections will be forwarded to the Governor's Office for final approval. The Governor will be the final selection authority.

Nomination Format/Documentation Criteria

The Governor's Public Safety Awards Committee will provide information describing the nomination format and documentation criteria to public safety associations for dissemination to their respective constituents. Nomination form and criteria will also be posted on the Georgia Public Safety Training Center Website.

REVISED CRITERIA ADOPTED BY GEORGIA PUBLIC SAFETY MEMORIAL COMMITTEE, AND APPROVED BY THE GEORGIA BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY ON July 13, 2005 .