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Newport News Police Department
ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL
ADM-280 – AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS
Amends/Supersedes: ADM-280 (10/04/2021) Date of Issue: 02/10/2025
I. GENERAL
A. The Newport News Police Department strives to recognize employees who, through their performance
and actions, demonstrate excellence and commitment to the department, the community and the law
enforcement profession. This policy establishes the process, criteria and procedures for awarding
deserving employees such recognition.
B. To coordinate the nomination process and make recommendations, the Chief of Police has established
an awards Committee responsible for reviewing nominations and making recommendations to the Chief
of Police.
II. DEFINITIONS, CRITERIA & GUIDELINES
A. The following definitions are used for determining awards:
1. Single acts or events refer to one event, incident or action.
2. Overall performance refers to consistent performance over time.
3. Performance of duties refers to actions that constitute the employee/volunteers’ assigned duties and
responsibilities.
4. Exceptional performance refers to actions that exceed the expectations for assigned duties and
responsibilities.
5. Heroic actions refer to those in which the nominee showed extreme courage and knowingly risked
their own life or limb.
6. Dangerous conditions refer to situations with a substantial risk to life and safety.
7. Unusual circumstances refer to situations not normally encountered during the course of one’s duties
and responsibilities.
B. The Chief of Police makes the final decision to issue an award.
C. All awards, apart from letters of commendation, are issued at the department awards ceremony.
D. Unless specified in the award description, awards may be presented to multiple nominated and qualified
candidates meeting the criteria.
E. Before any award, other than a letter of commendation, is recommended to the Chief of Police,
verification that the prospective awardee is not under a current administrative investigation for a major
conduct or performance issue at the time of recommendation or award, is required.
1. The recommendation may proceed if the administrative investigation relates to a firearm's discharge
under the circumstances surrounding the nomination.
2. The administrative investigation must be completed before an award is issued.
F. Unless specified below, sworn members who receive an award will receive a commendation bar and
approval to display it on their uniform.
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