[Adopted 11-13-1984]
A Board of Merit is established in and for the
City of Watertown, New York, to officially recognize and award those
public safety officers and citizens who heroically perform services
above and beyond the call of duty, who achieve or attempt to achieve
the saving of life and/or property.
This Board of Merit's members consist solely
of members of the City Council and Mayor of the City of Watertown,
New York.
The procedure shall be by submitting of a candidate's
action in writing by the Fire Chief and/or Police Chief with recommendation
by the City Manager to the Board of Merit; a majority vote of the
Board of Merit shall be binding.
Awards shall become a part of the official personnel
file of the City employee, with the medal and/or ribbon an official
part of their uniform.
Awards shall be broken into four categories:
A.
Award or Medal of Valor: Through risk of personal
safety, a fire fighter or police officer achieves or attempts to achieve
the rescue and safety of a person from imminent danger of death or
injury from, but not limited to, burning buildings, hostile conditions,
rivers, criminal violence and/or prevents the spread of fire or violence
to property or peace of the community above and beyond the call of
duty.
B.
Award of Meritorious Achievement: Through dedicated
performance of duty of a fire fighter or police officer who achieves
the same results outlined for the Medal of Valor, with the risk to
personal safety within the limits of the call of duty.
C.
Service Award: To the dedicated public safety officer,
recognized by his peers and officers for continued excellence in the
performance of duties over a period of time or in a particular program
assignment or situation.
D.
Citizen Award: To the nonuniformed citizen who unselfishly
risks his personal safety to rescue a person from a burning building,
a dangerous river or from a crime of violence or other such similar
act, as ascertained by the Police and/or Fire Chief of the City of
Watertown, New York.
The ceremony, time and place of the award presentation
shall be at the discretion of the Board.
