226 – Commendations, Awards, Nominations, Pins, and Ribbons

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I. Purpose

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) recognizes employees and citizens for their meritorious service, bravery, and valor. Recognition may be in the form of awards, medals, ribbons, or written commendations.

II. Policy

Nomination of an employee or citizen for an award will be predicated on achievement of any one of the following:

A. Significant and commendable actions – meritorious actions of employees not documented in an incident report can be documented on a letterhead and submitted with the nomination as a supporting document.

B. Outstanding performance, documented by:

  1. The creation of innovative methods or procedures that enhance the efficiency of a unit, section, division, bureau, or HCSO, or
  2. Exemplary solution of unusual or difficult problems, events, or cases.

C. Significant contributions to the community through off-duty participation in service organizations or community events,

D. Exceptional deeds or performance provided to or on behalf of citizens that bring honor to HCSO and to the law enforcement profession or both.

III. Nomination Submission Procedures

A. Any HCSO member may nominate any other member for an award. If the primary criterion for an award is established, an online “Awards Nominee” form will be initiated on the HCSO Intranet Awards Submission Portal and forwarded through the chain of command to the appropriate bureau commander. The bureau commander will submit the nomination to the Human Resources Division (HR).

B. Each nomination must contain concise and explicit justification that meet the criteria established for an award. Any award nomination must be initiated within two years of the occurrence of the event prompting the nomination. Supporting documentation may be attached to the nomination form.

C. Following receipt of nominations from each bureau commander, HR will process the nominations and prepare them for the Awards Review Board.

IV. Human Resources

A. All nominations processed through HR will be forwarded to the Awards Review Board for consideration and the decision to award. The nominations will be forwarded to the Sheriff for a final decision.

B. HR will be responsible for planning and facilitating the Awards Ceremony on a quarterly basis.

V. Awards Review Board

A. The purpose of the Awards Review Board is to examine each award nomination and determine if it meets the criteria to receive an award.

B. The Awards Review Board membership will be comprised of representatives from each listed Bureau.

C. Each member will be appointed by the respective Bureau Commander to serve on the Awards Review Board upon approval by the Sheriff or designee.

  1. Each member will have one vote,
  2. Each member will serve a maximum of three years.

a. At the expiration of the first year, two members will rotate off the board and be replaced by their bureau commander.

b. At the expiration of the second year, two members will rotate off the board and be replaced by their bureau commander.

c. At the expiration of the third year, three members will rotate off the board and be replaced by their bureau commander.

d. This pattern will continue for subsequent years.

D. The Awards Review Board will convene monthly to consider all nominations provided by HR.

E. At the beginning of each calendar year, the Awards Review Board members will select a chairperson to guide the board upon approval by the Sheriff or designee.

  1. The chairperson presides over the meetings, but does not vote except in the case of a tie vote.

F. The Awards Review Board will be guided solely by the criteria listed in this policy for each award category.

  1. The members as a group will decide whether each nomination meets the criteria specified for each award.
  2. If an incident, in the opinion of the Board, does not warrant the preparation of an official commendation, the report will be forwarded to HR to be placed in the employee’s permanent personnel file as a written commendation and entered into Blue Team.

VI. Written Commendations

Any employee may submit a written commendation recognizing a HCSO employee for outstanding performance as follows:

A. Any community member who commends an employee by sending a written or electronic commendation directly to the Sheriff will receive correspondence from the Sheriff. The community member’s original correspondence will be sent to the employee’s bureau commander for review and signature. When the commended employee and those in the employee’s chain of command have signed the community member’s correspondence, the original commendation will be placed in the employee’s bureau file and forwarded to HR to be placed in the employee’s personnel file and entered into Blue Team.

B. Written commendations from community members sent directly to a division or bureau, will not be forwarded to the Sheriff. The division or bureau will respond to the community member acknowledging receipt of the commendation. The employee and the employee’s chain of command will sign the community member’s original correspondence. The original commendation will be placed in the employee’s bureau file and forwarded to HR to be placed in the employee’s personnel file and entered into Blue Team.

C. Written commendations for employees originating within the Sheriff’s Office, will be entered into the commendation section of Blue Team and forwarded through the chain of command to the bureau commander. The bureau commander may:

  1. Sign and approve the written commendation, or
  2. Recommend the commendation be elevated to a higher level award to be reviewed by the Award Review Board.
  3. The original commendation will be placed in the employee’s bureau file and forwarded to HR to be placed in the employee’s personnel file.
  4. Upon receipt of the fully signed written commendation, either the bureau or division commander, will deliver the written commendation to the employee on a display appropriate certificate.

VII. Field Commendations

A. When receiving verbal commendations from citizens about employees (e.g., conversations on the telephone or civic meetings) supervisors should document it by reducing the commendations to writing, entering it into Blue Team, and forwarding it through the employee’s chain of command. The memo should be placed in the employee’s bureau file and forwarded to HR to be placed in the employee’s personnel file. The memo will be read publicly at the next roll call.

B. When observing excellent service, any supervisor may translate it into written form. The document will be forwarded to the division commander through Blue Team for review. Upon endorsing the memo, it will be placed in the employee’s bureau file and forwarded to HR to be placed in the employee’s personnel file. The memo will be read publicly at the next roll call.

VIII. Authorized Uniform Pins and Ribbons

The Mourning Badge Cover Pin is purchased by the employee as a representation of the cloth mourning badge cover specifically designed to be pinned to the standard Class C uniform badge and all specialty uniforms having the cloth badge. Professional Staff Members and plainclothes personnel may wear the mourning badge cover pin on jackets and lanyards only.

Other authorized pins listed in this policy may be displayed on the Class A duty uniform only, with the following exceptions:

• The years of service pin may only be worn with the Class B uniform.

• The Honor Guard pin with an attached name plate may be worn with the Class A and B uniforms. As it is affixed to the name plate, it may be worn under all other pins and ribbons along with any other specialty pin.

• The Military Branch Pin may be worn centered on the right pocket flap of the Class B and C uniform shirt.

The type of ribbons or pins the employee is authorized to wear will dictate the location and the number of ribbons or pins allowed to be displayed on the uniform.

All ribbons or pins will be worn only in the approved manner. Achievement and specialty pins fall within the categories of “rectangular” or other shapes.

See Policy #240 (Dress Code) for a pin and ribbon placement diagram and full details on the wear and display of uniform accessories.

A. Achievement Pin:

The following achievement pins are authorized, and the employee who has fulfilled the necessary requirements may wear one of the following achievement pins in the approved manner:

  1. Pin: Certified Jail Manager

Qualification: Must pass a jail manager examination for professional excellence as promulgated by the American Jail Association.

  1. Pin: FBI National Academy Graduate

Qualification: Must have successfully graduated from the FBI National Academy.

  1. Pin: Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP)

Qualification: Must have successfully graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP).

  1. Pin: Graduate Management Institute (GMI) or Leadership and Command College (LCC)

Qualification: Must have successfully completed the required academic qualifications and be a graduate of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute or Leadership Command College of Texas.

  1. Pin: HCSO Service Award

Qualification: Awarded for every five consecutive years of service with HCSO.

  1. Pin: Master Peace Officer

Qualification: Must possess a TCOLE-approved master peace officer license.

  1. Pin: Military Branch

Qualification: Must have been honorably discharged from one of the six United States military branches.

  1. Pin: TCOLE Education Achievement Award

Qualification: Must apply and receive the education achievement award as stipulated by TCOLE rules and regulations. The uniform pin issued by TCOLE for this award will be the only academic achievement award pin authorized to be worn on the HCSO uniform.

  1. Pin: 100 Club (This may instead be worn as a ribbon, see below)

Qualification: Must be a recipient of a 100 Club award.

10. Pin: National Jail Leadership Command Academy

Qualification: Must have successfully completed the required academic qualifications and be a graduate of the National Jail Leadership Command Academy.

B. Specialty Pins

In the event an employee has more than one specialty pin, the employee must decide which pin will be worn. The following specialty pins are authorized, and the employee who has fulfilled the necessary requirements may wear only one of the following pins in the approved manner on the uniform:

  1. Pin: Accident Investigator

Qualification: Must have successfully completed the advanced traffic collision investigation courses and be currently assigned in that capacity.

  1. Pin: Aviation

Qualification: Must be currently assigned to the HCSO Air Support Unit.

  1. Pin: Bicycle Patrol

Qualification: Must have successfully completed an approved 40-hour bicycle certification course, possess an HCSO-approved police-equipped bicycle, and be assigned to the Bicycle Unit.

  1. Pin: Bilingual Speaker

Qualification: Must be proficient in the foreign language that is represented on the pin displayed.

  1. Pin: Bomb Technician

Qualification: Must have successfully completed FBI-approved Hazardous Device School for Law Enforcement Officers course and be currently assigned to the Bomb Unit.

  1. Pin: Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)

Qualification: Must have successfully completed all phases of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration certification course, maintain annual recertification, and be currently assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit.

  1. Pin: Crime Prevention Specialist

Qualification: Must have successfully completed a crime prevention specialist training course.

  1. Pin: Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)

Qualification: Must have successfully completed the required training and be currently assigned as a crime scene investigator.

  1. Pin: Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT)

Qualification: Must be a TCOLE-licensed peace officer or detention officer who has completed the training necessary to qualify as a mental health officer. The employee must currently be assigned to CIRT in the Patrol Bureau or to the Justice Housing Mental Health Unit (MHU) / Medical Division.

  1. Pin: Drug Recognition Expert

Qualification: Must have successfully completed the Drug Evaluation and Classification training course, be a currently certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), and maintain the yearly requirements to perform duties of this certification.

  1. Pin: DWI Unit

Qualification: Must be currently assigned to the HCSO DWI Unit of the Vehicular Crimes Division.

  1. Pin: Explorer Advisor

Qualification: Must be a certified explorer advisor and currently be active and participating in the Explorers program.

  1. Pin: Field Training Officer (FTO)

Qualification: Must have successfully completed a field training officer training course and currently be in an FTO position within the Patrol Bureau.

  1. Pin: Firearms Instructor

Qualification: Must have successfully completed a certified firearms instructor course approved by the HCSO Academy and be currently registered and serving as a range officer for HCSO qualifications.

  1. Pin: Hazardous Materials Specialist

Qualification: Must have successfully completed a TCOLE-approved hazardous material operations course for law enforcement officers.

  1. Pin: Honor Guard

Qualification: Must be a current Honor Guard member.

  1. Pin: Hostage Negotiator

Qualification: Must be currently assigned to the Crisis Negotiation Team.

  1. Pin: Intoxilyzer Operator

Qualification: Must have successfully completed a TCOLE-approved intoxilyzer operator training course and currently hold that additional duty assignment.

  1. Pin: Jail Inspection

Qualification: Effective March 1, 2011, personnel must have been assigned to the Detention Command during the successful passing of the annual Texas Jail Commission inspection and / or any future successful jail inspections.

• Each star represents up to five years of successful annual Texas Jail Commission inspections.

  1. Pin: K-9 Unit

Qualification: Must have successfully completed an HCSO-approved police dog handler course and currently hold that position.

  1. Pin: Marine Division

Qualification: Must successfully pass the Texas Boater Safety Course administered by Texas Parks and Wildlife and pass the Marine Safety Enforcement Deputy course as authorized by HCSO and prescribed by TCOLE. The deputy must be in good standing with the Marine Division and meet ongoing training requirements and emergency call-outs.

  1. Pin: Mentor

Qualification: This pin is issued through the HCSO Leadership Development Institute for successful completion of the authorized Mentorship Program for new personnel.

  1. Pin: Motorcycle Deputy

Qualification: Must be currently assigned to the motorcycle section of the Vehicular Crimes Division, must be certified in HCSO motorcycle training, and must possess an HCSO-approved police-equipped motorcycle.

  1. Pin: Mounted Patrol

Qualification: Horse and deputy must have successfully completed a 40-hour basic and advanced certification class authorized by HCSO and successfully completed the annual proficiency qualification test. The deputy must be an active participating member of the Mounted Patrol and meet ongoing training requirements and emergency call-outs.

  1. Pin: Peer Support Network Member

Qualification: Be a current member of the HCSO Peer Support Network in good standing.

  1. Pin: Police Diver

Qualification: Must hold a minimum rating of advanced open water diver and have successfully passed the 40-hour TCOLE-approved police diver course as authorized by HCSO. The deputy must be in good standing with the Marine Division and meet ongoing training requirements and emergency call-outs.

  1. Pin: Safe Zone

Qualification: Must be a volunteer liaison of the LGBTQI Safe Zone Project and have completed the LGBTQI Safe Zone Project course.

  1. Pin: Special Response Group (SRG)

Qualification: Must be currently assigned as a SRG member in good standing and have completed all requirements as outlined in the HCSO Special Response Group policy.

  1. Pin: Training Deputy or Training Supervisor

Qualification: Must have successfully completed a TCOLE-approved instructor course and currently hold an instructor position within HCSO.

  1. Pin: 9-1-1 Operator

Qualification: Must have successfully completed a TCOLE-approved telecommunication training course and be currently assigned in that capacity.

C. Award Ribbon Requirements

  1. Bravery (red)

Awarded by the Sheriff to an employee who has distinguished him- or herself by an act of heroism at imminent personal hazard or has been involved in combat with an armed adversary.

  1. Blue Heart (blue)

Awarded to an employee who received injuries while acting judiciously and in the line of duty. In addition, this award may be conferred if serious bodily injury from a projectile was averted by the use of body armor.

Injuries due to negligence or minor injuries are not eligible.

This award may be awarded to a family member of employee who succumbed to the injuries sustained due to their actions.

NOTE: Employees previously awarded the Valor Award (now discontinued and covered by “Bravery”) may continue to display this ribbon on their uniform in accordance with this policy.

  1. De-Escalation (navy, green, and orange)

Awarded to an employee(s) who effectively applied the principles of the critical decision-making model and de-escalation techniques, including exceptional verbal communication, in any life-threatening situation, resulting in the preservation or rescue of human life.

  1. Lifesaving (green)

Awarded by the Sheriff to an employee whose meritorious conduct includes a lifesaving action or exceptional first aid response.

  1. Merit (light blue, distinct from Blue Heart)

Awarded by the Sheriff to an employee whose meritorious conduct singularly deserves attention. The employee’s ideas, actions, or exemplary personal conduct may:

a. Result in improved administration, operation, or substantial saving in manpower or costs,

b. Merit commendatory attention through the use of creative policing initiatives, or

c. Reflect favorably on HCSO and its personnel.

  1. Outstanding Community Service (blue with a red and white centered oak branch)

Awarded by the Sheriff to an employee or a citizen for his or her outstanding work in building the relationship and partnership between HCSO and his or her community or for any other form of outstanding public service.

  1. Safe Driving (green with white stripes)

Awarded by the Sheriff to a person or group for best or most improved driving record.

Employees must have been assigned to a driving position for consecutive years within the areas below. A calendar year runs from January 1st through December 31st. During this specified time, an employee should not have been:

a. Involved in an “at-fault” fleet crash or

b. Involved in an “at-fault” or “non-at-fault” crash in which the employee was found not wearing his or her seat belt.

Law Enforcement Command: Period of five consecutive calendar years

Transportation Division: Period of five consecutive calendar years

Operations (e.g., Outside Patrol and supervisory positions): Period of 10 consecutive calendar years

In March of each year, if an employee believes he or she is eligible for the safe driving award, the employee will request in writing to the employee’s division commander that he or she should be issued the award. The division commander will request in writing for the Vehicular Crimes Division (VCD) supervisor to verify that the employee has not been involved in any “at-fault” fleet crash, “seat belt violation,” or any “safety violation” fleet crashes. The VCD supervisor will then inform the requesting division commander whether the employee is eligible for the safe driving award.

NOTE: The safe driving award should only be awarded to deputies who spend 50% or more of their time in their assigned county vehicles and who are regularly exposed to traffic hazards during their course of duty.

  1. Outstanding Supervisor (blue with white stripes)

Awarded by the Sheriff to a supervisor of any rank or assignment who is particularly distinguished by consistently delivering quality supervision and outstanding service.

  1. Perfect Attendance (red, white, and blue)

Awarded by the Sheriff in recognition of an employee who has not used any sick time, including family leave time, during a calendar year.

• A ribbon of red, white, and blue with a centered gold leaf is awarded for two or more years of continuous perfect attendance.

• Only one perfect attendance ribbon will be worn at a time.

10. Unit Citation (yellow)

Awarded to a departmental unit or section whose performance is indicative of a high degree of initiative, determination, diligence, and cooperative effort in the fulfillment of a difficult mission, operation, task, or project.

11.  National Defense (red with yellow stripes)

Awarded by the Sheriff to employees who have received a National Defense award from the United States Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force). Eligible employees will submit a copy of their DD-214 or DD-215 (Report of Separation) to HR.

12.  Hurricane Harvey Service

Awarded by the Sheriff to employees in recognition of meritorious service to the community in preparation of, during, and after Hurricane Harvey’s landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017.

13.  Hurricane Ike Service (red and black, dated 9-13-08)

Awarded by the Sheriff to employees in recognition of meritorious service to the community in preparation of, during, and after Hurricane Ike’s landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast on September 13, 2008.

14.  LDI Graduate (purple with gold stripes)

Effective October 15, 2013, personnel must have successfully completed the HCSO Leadership Development Institute program to wear this ribbon.

15.  Breast Cancer Awareness (pink and white)

Awarded for significant community service contributions in the fight against breast cancer.

“Significant” means:

• Time: More than 40 hours in the last 3 years,

• Number of events: 3 or more in the last 3 years, or

• Fundraising: At least $1,000.00 in the last 3 years.

16.  100 Club (Black, light blue, gold, and white stripes)

Awarded to the recipient of a 100 Club award.

This award may also be worn as a pin. (See VIII. “A” 9)

Revision

This policy has been revised on the below listed dates:

April 21, 2009
December 1, 2017
April 9, 2018
February 7, 2019
March 25, 2024
June 14, 2024
March 1, 2025
March 6, 2025 (Technical Updates)
April 1, 2025 (Technical Updates)

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