Awards

The Voorhees Police Department Awards and Recognition Program recognizes individual officer and team achievements in a number of categories as outlined. Officers are then permitted to wear a citation award bar on their uniforms. We will publish stories on this page when officers are presented with awards by this agency or any other organization. To commend an officer, please email us at media@vtpd.com, thank you.

Medal of Honor Posthumous

1. Presented to the family of a law enforcement officer killed in the performance of his/her duty.
2. The family will receive a Medal and framed certificate.

Medal of Honor

1. The recipient shall receive a Medal, a Citation Bar, and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Medal of Honor may be awarded for an outstanding act in the line of duty, at imminent personal hazard of life, with full knowledge of the risk involved.

Combat Cross

1. The recipient shall receive a Medal, a Citation Bar, and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Combat Cross may be awarded to any member for the successful performance of an act of extraordinary heroism while engaged in personal combat with an adversary at imminent personal hazard of life in the performance of duty.

Wounded in Combat

1. The recipient shall receive a Medal, a Citation Bar, and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Wounded in Combat may be awarded for a wound received in the line of duty, inflicted intentionally by an adversary, resulting in severe puncture wounds, lacerations, fractures, or concussion being suffered by the nominee.

Gallantry Star

1. The recipient shall receive a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Gallantry Star may be awarded for an act that goes beyond the call of duty. This includes acts of bravery or the arrest of a person who is a major threat to the welfare of the community and/or the officer.

Legion of Honor

1. The recipient shall receive a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Legion of Honor may be awarded for a permanent injury and or work related heart condition in the active role of his/her job, there-by preventing an officer from further serving for a minimum period of three months or longer.

Meritorious Service

1. The recipient shall receive a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Meritorious Service may be awarded for a highly unusual accomplishment under adverse conditions with some degree of hazard to life and limb of the nominee or where death or injury to a third party is prevented.

Exceptional Duty Award

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Exceptional Duty award may be presented to an officer for a creditable act in the line of duty, which meets some, but not all, of the requirements for other awards, and is unusual in nature, showing initiative and accomplishment.

Honorable Service Award

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. A highly creditable accomplishment, bringing public acclaim to the officer, their department or the police profession, as a result of training, devotion to duty or service to the public.

Chief’s Achievement Award

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate
2. The Department’s Chiefs Achievement Award may be presented to a department member for an outstanding act or achievement.
3. This recognition bar is awarded exclusively by the Chief of Police. The recognition bar does not require committee approval.

Drug Buster

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Drug Buster award may be presented to an officer who has arrested a major narcotic offender.

K-9 Commendation

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s K-9 Commendation may be presented to an officer canine team that has successfully aided and or assisted to overcome a dangerous encounter through the use of the canine team.

Unit Citation

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate
2. The Department’s Unit Citation may be presented to department members who have participated in a team effort to accomplish a cited action.

Life Saving

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Life Saving Award may be awarded to any member of the force whose prompt and alert action results in saving a life.

Croix De Negotiator Laurel

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2.  The Department’s Croix De Negotiator Laurel may be presented to an officer who has maintained his/her composure, alert talk-down and wit under extreme circumstances, which prevented a life threat.

Triumphant Award

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Triumphant Award may be presented to an officer who attains the highest average score on the handgun course. In the event there is a tie, the qualifying participants will shoot a course approved by the Supervising Firearms Instructor, to determine the “Top Shot”. Standards will be set by the Firearms Committee.

Official’s Medal

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Officials Medal may be presented to an officer who has exhibited achievement, courage and high ability in the carrying out the mission of government.
3. This award is presented by a Voorhees Township elected official and given to officers solely at the official’s discretion.

Distinguished Volunteer Service

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate
2. The Department’s Distinguished Volunteer Service may be presented to department members who render voluntary assistance to community based organizations.

The Samaritan

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Samaritan award may be presented to an officer who has displayed an act of humanity as a friend to those in need, by attending to them in the time of crisis, accident or danger and providing them with understanding and confidence.

Educational Achievement Award

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar and a certificate.
2. The Department’s Educational Achievement award may be presented to an officer who has earned an Associates Degree, Bachelors Degree, or Masters Degree from an accredited institution.

Patriot

1. The recipient shall be awarded a Citation Bar.
2. The Department’s Patriot award may be presented to an officer who has served in any branch of the United States Military.

Civilian Service Awards

1. A certificate will be presented to a civilian that assists the department in the apprehension of a criminal, or in any emergency. This award may also be presented when a civilian provides services which may be deemed beneficial to the department or the Municipality.
2. At the discretion, of the Chief a department plaque may also be awarded.