{"identifier":"/us/usc/t34/s51101","title":34,"num":"\u00a7\u202f51101.","heading":"Medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders","text":"\u00a7\u202f51101.\nMedal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders\n(a)\nMedal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders\nThe President shall issue a medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders who were killed in the line of duty.\n(b)\nEligibility\n(1)\nIn general\nA local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal law enforcement officer or first responder who was killed in the line of duty shall be eligible for the medal of sacrifice established under subsection (a).\n(2)\nException\n(A)\nIn general\nA local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal law enforcement officer or first responder who is killed in the line of duty, but who is subject to an official finding of wrongdoing, shall not be eligible for the medal of sacrifice established under subsection (a).\n(B)\nInvestigation\nIn the case of an official finding of wrongdoing, the Commission established under subsection (c) shall investigate the circumstances surrounding the law enforcement officer\u2019s or first responder\u2019s cause of death, including considering any findings by the local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal agency with respect to the officer\u2019s or responder\u2019s death. The Commission established under subsection (c) shall make a final determination as to the officer\u2019s eligibility for the medal established under subsection (a).\n(C)\nOfficial finding of wrongdoing\nIn this paragraph, the term \u201cofficial finding of wrongdoing\u201d means a determination by the law enforcement officer\u2019s or first responders\u2019 superior officer or employing law agency that the officer acted outside of the scope of their duties or not in accordance with the agency\u2019s official policies or procedures.\n(c)\nCommission on medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders\n(1)\nEstablishment\nThe President shall establish a Commission on the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders (hereinafter known as the \u201cCommission\u201d).\n(2)\nAppointment\nNot later than 150 days after\nMay 28, 2026\n(3)\nTerm\nMembers of the Commission shall be appointed for a term of 5 years and shall be eligible to serve up to two terms, either consecutively or non-consecutively. The President shall make appointments to fill such vacancies as may occur on the Board.\n(4)\nProhibition on payment\nMembers shall not be paid for serving on the Commission.\n(5)\nResponsibilities\nThe Commission shall\u2014\n(A) advise the Commission on the design of the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders;\n(B) promote the establishment of the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders;\n(C) determine how the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders shall be presented;\n(D) make any final determination necessary pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(B); and\n(E) advise the President regarding criteria for assessing eligibility pursuant to subsection (b).\n(6)\nInitial award\nThe Commission shall award the following law enforcement officers the medal of sacrifice:\n(A) Deputy Ralph \u201cButch\u201d Waller (Badge #8434);\n(B) Deputy Ignacio \u201cDan\u201d Diaz (Badge #7637); and\n(C) Deputy Luis Paez (Badge #3882).\n(7)\nSunset\nThe Commission shall cease to exist on the date on which the President determines that the Commission has completed each responsibility under paragraph (5).\n(d)\nDescription\nThe medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders shall be a modified quatrefoil, with rounded lobes extending from a central octagon. The field incorporates features of the Great Seal of the United States, redesigned by Tiffany & Co\n1\n1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a period.","url":"https://projectusc.org/usc/t34/s51101.html","content":[{"t":"sec","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101","children":[{"t":"num","text":"\u00a7\u202f51101."},{"t":"heading","text":"Medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/a","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(a)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The President shall issue a medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders who were killed in the line of duty.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/b","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(b)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Eligibility"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/b/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"heading","text":"In general"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"A local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal law enforcement officer or first responder who was killed in the line of duty shall be eligible for the medal of sacrifice established under subsection (a).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/b/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Exception"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/b/2/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"heading","text":"In general"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"A local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal law enforcement officer or first responder who is killed in the line of duty, but who is subject to an official finding of wrongdoing, shall not be eligible for the medal of sacrifice established under subsection (a).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/b/2/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Investigation"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"In the case of an official finding of wrongdoing, the Commission established under subsection (c) shall investigate the circumstances surrounding the law enforcement officer\u2019s or first responder\u2019s cause of death, including considering any findings by the local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal agency with respect to the officer\u2019s or responder\u2019s death. The Commission established under subsection (c) shall make a final determination as to the officer\u2019s eligibility for the medal established under subsection (a).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/b/2/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Official finding of wrongdoing"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"In this paragraph, the term \u201cofficial finding of wrongdoing\u201d means a determination by the law enforcement officer\u2019s or first responders\u2019 superior officer or employing law agency that the officer acted outside of the scope of their duties or not in accordance with the agency\u2019s official policies or procedures.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(c)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Commission on medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Establishment"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The President shall establish a Commission on the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders (hereinafter known as the \u201cCommission\u201d).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Appointment"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"Not later than 150 days after ","children":[{"t":"text","text":"May 28, 2026","tail":", the President shall appoint 12 members of the Commission. Such members shall be law enforcement officers, first responders, and representatives of organizations knowledgeable about law enforcement."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/3","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(3)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Term"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"Members of the Commission shall be appointed for a term of 5 years and shall be eligible to serve up to two terms, either consecutively or non-consecutively. The President shall make appointments to fill such vacancies as may occur on the Board.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/4","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(4)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Prohibition on payment"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"Members shall not be paid for serving on the Commission.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/5","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(5)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Responsibilities"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"The Commission shall\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/5/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" advise the Commission on the design of the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/5/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" promote the establishment of the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/5/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"content","text":" determine how the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders shall be presented;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/5/D","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(D)"},{"t":"content","text":" make any final determination necessary pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(B); and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/5/E","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(E)"},{"t":"content","text":" advise the President regarding criteria for assessing eligibility pursuant to subsection (b).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/6","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(6)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Initial award"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"The Commission shall award the following law enforcement officers the medal of sacrifice:"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/6/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" Deputy Ralph \u201cButch\u201d Waller (Badge #8434);","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/6/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" Deputy Ignacio \u201cDan\u201d Diaz (Badge #7637); and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/6/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"content","text":" Deputy Luis Paez (Badge #3882).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/c/7","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(7)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Sunset"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The Commission shall cease to exist on the date on which the President determines that the Commission has completed each responsibility under paragraph (5).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t34/s51101/d","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(d)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Description"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders shall be a modified quatrefoil, with rounded lobes extending from a central octagon. The field incorporates features of the Great Seal of the United States, redesigned by Tiffany & Co\u202f","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"1"},{"t":"num","text":"1","tail":"\u202fSo in original. Probably should be followed by a period."},{"t":"text","text":"\u202fSo in original. Probably should be followed by a period.","tail":" in 1885. The American eagle is charged with a coat of arms as a shield, argent, on a chevron gules between three lions rampant azure, as many chevronels argent; the crest, out of a coronet or, a double-tailed lion rampant azure, holding in its dexter paw a torch or enflamed proper; and \u201cIntegritas\u201d included as a motto. Surrounding the seal are mullets, 47 in number, alternating with three rampant lions and incorporating four chevrons. In base, the word \u201cSACRIFICE\u201d is inscribed. In dexter base, three oak leaves are placed, symbolizing the national tree of the U.S., representing strength, resilience, and honoring the families and widows of the fallen. The reverse of the medal is sandblasted and bears an engraving of the names of the fallen heroes. The medal is suspended from a ribbon, either Azure or Gules depending on the fallen hero being honored. The ribbon bail is prepared and attached by hand soldering to the back of the medal. The medal is crafted from Silver Ag925 with 24k Gold Vermeil, with a weight of approximately 63 grams. It has a diameter of 2.25 inches. The Vermeil plating has a thickness of 2.5 microns. The medal combines national symbols with heraldic elements to represent the sacrifice of the fallen deputies. The use of Silver and Gold signifies the value and honor associated with their service."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"}]}]}