_______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2419
_______________________________________________
Passed Legislature - 1994 Regular Session
State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994
Regular Session
By
Read first time 01/14/94. Referred to Committee
on State Government.
Honoring law enforcement officers
who die in the line of duty.
AN ACT Relating to law
enforcement officers who die in the line of duty; and adding a new chapter to
Title 41 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec.
1. There is established a
decoration of the state law enforcement medal of honor with accompanying
ribbons and appurtenances for award by the governor in the name of the state to
any law enforcement officer who has been seriously injured or killed while in
the performance of duty, or who has been distinguished by exceptionally meritorious
conduct, upon nomination of the governor's state law enforcement medal of honor
committee.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
2. There is created the
state law enforcement medal of honor committee for nominating candidates for
the award of the state law enforcement medal of honor. The committee
membership consists of a representative from the governors office, the
Washington state law enforcement association, the Washington state council of
police officers, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, and
the Washington state troopers association. The attorney general shall serve as
chair of the committee and shall designate a secretary for the committee. The
committee shall meet not less than semiannually to consider candidates for
nomination. The committee shall adopt rules establishing the qualifications
for the state law enforcement medal of honor, the protocol governing the
decoration, and the appurtenances necessary to the implementation of this
chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
3. The state law enforcement
medal of honor shall be awarded to recipients during the national law
enforcement recognition week. The governor may delegate the awarding of the
medal to the lieutenant governor or the attorney general.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
4. The state law enforcement
medal of honor may be awarded posthumously to be presented to the
representative of the deceased as may be deemed appropriate by the governor or
the designees specified in section 3 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
5. The decoration of the
state law enforcement medal of honor shall be bronze and shall consist of a
police shield overlaid by a sheriffs star with the seal of the state of Washington
in the center and the words "law enforcement medal of honor" within
the design and suspended from a ring attached by either a navy blue ribbon with
a gold edge or a green ribbon with a gold edge. Such color choice shall be the
recipient's. The reverse of the decoration shall be inscribed with the words
"For exceptionally honorable and meritorious conduct in performing
services as a law enforcement officer."
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of
this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 41 RCW.
