Every day, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers engage in exceptional acts of bravery while in the line of duty. Often, such acts place these officers involved at personal risk of injury or result in actually sustaining a physical injury. To honor these acts of bravery, Congress passed the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-298), creating the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery and the State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery. The act establishes an award to honor exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. The badges are awarded annually by the U.S. Attorney General and are presented by the recipients’ Congressional representatives.
To meet the definition of an act of bravery, nominees for the Congressional Badge of Bravery must have either:
- Sustained a physical injury while engaged in the lawful duties performed by 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 brave by the agency head who makes the nomination that placed the individual at risk of serious physical injury or death.
Congressman Connie Mack will award the Congressional Badge of Bravery to Southwest Florida law enforcement officials who risked their lives to protect others during a deadly shooting.
Sgt. Pat McDonald and Deputy Ryan Justham, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, were shot at by a suspect during a routine call that turned into a murder scene.
The Congressional Badge of Bravery Award Ceremony will be 4 p.m. May 1, 2012, at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, 14750 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy., Fort Myers, FL 33912.
The public is invited to attend.