I have heard of this award, but had never seen a picture of the decoration itself. If the responding police officers had been Military Police, they would have only been eligible for an award of the Soldier’s Medal, the only valor award for actions not involving combat with enemy forces (the Air Force, and Navy/Marine Corps have their own equivilent).
It is a one size fits all type award, good for rescuing swimmers, pulling people from burning wrecks and all other acts of heroism. The British, Canadians, and Australians have several decorations that can be presented for non-combat heroism for both soldiers and civilians. For example, the British have the George Cross, the George Medal, and the Queen’s Gallantry Medal. The George Cross ranks next to the Victoria Cross and is only very rarely presented.
While the Soldier’s Medal is a relatively rare and respected decoration, it sometimes does not seem to fit the degree of courage exhibited. A non combat valor award on the level of the Distinguished Service Cross or Navy Cross might be warranted.
This Public Safety award might have a similar problem: it will either almost never be awarded, or presented for acts of courage that don’t rise to the level of a Medal of Honor type distinction.
Yes, Australia has the Cross of Valour (CV) as a civilian counterpart to the Victoria Cross (VC). It replaced the George Cross in our own Honours system - the Victoria Cross, because of its special history was retained as the Victoria Cross for Australia.
The CV has been awarded five times since it came into existence in 1975. Two awards have been to police officers. Two awards were made following the Bali bombing of 2002 - to Senior Constable Timothy Britten CV of the Western Australian Police Force who was on holiday in Bali, and to Mr Richard Joyes CV, a geologist, also on holiday. Both repeatedly exposed themselves to the highest levels of danger to rescue people from the bombed nightclub.
In addition four 'Stars of Courage' (SC), fourteen 'Bravery Medals' (BM), and seventeen 'Commendations for Brave Conduct' were awarded in the aftermath of that attack.
In addition to these, 139 awards at various levels of the Order of Australia were made to those who gave sterling service in other ways not involving courage of the type bravery awards are given for.
One of these went to an American doctor, Dr Arthur Ichimura Sorrell AM of Venice, California, who became an (Honourary) Member of the Order of Australia for his selfless efforts in providing medical support to the injured.
I think the United States would benefit from considering the need for a way to formally recognise such courage and service by civilians at a national level - Australia was able to honour an American for his service in the worst ever terrorist attack we experienced, in a way America can't do in a similar situation.
The military do great things and show great courage. So sometimes, do civilians.
This Public Safety award might have a similar problem: it will either almost never be awarded, or presented for acts of courage that don’t rise to the level of a Medal of Honor type distinction.
I'd say it's the latter - it has been awarded over 40 times since 2001 and from what I see every recipient was worthy and showed great courage - but certainly not all cases were at Medal of Honour level.