In 2008, Congress passed the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery (CBOB) Act to honor the exceptional acts of bravery that federal, state, and local law enforcement officers make in the line of duty every day. Often times, these acts of bravery place officers at personal risk of injury or result in sustainment of a physical injury. The Law Enforcement CBOB nomination period is now open through February 15, 2016.
To meet the definition of an act of bravery, nominees for the CBOB must have either:
- Sustained a physical injury while:
- Engaged in the lawful duties of the individual, and
- Performing an act characterized as bravery by the agency head who makes the nomination, and
- Being at personal risk; or
- Although not injured, performed an act characterized as bravery by the agency head (who then makes the nomination that the individual was placed at risk of serious physical injury or death).
Agency heads submit their nominations to the CBOB Office, which is located within the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The medals are awarded annually by the U.S. Attorney General and are presented by the recipients’ Congressional representatives.
For more information about the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery, please click here.