SECTION 211.33. Law Enforcement Achievement Awards

(a) The commission shall issue achievement awards to qualified peace officers, reserve law enforcement officers, jailers, or telecommunicators licensed by the commission and, hereinafter, will be referred to as the nominees. A nominee for the achievement award must meet the following criteria:

(1) must have maintained, on a continuous basis, an average job performance during the individual's employment or appointment;

(2) must have exhibited relevant characteristics of the following:

(A) valor - an act of personal heroism or bravery which exceeds the normal expectations of job performance, such as placing one's own life in jeopardy to save another person's life, prevent serious bodily injury to another, or prevent the consequences of a criminal act;

(B) public service - when an individual, through initiative, creates or participates in a program or system which has a significant positive impact on the general population of a community which would exceed the normal expectations of job performance; or

(C) professional achievement - when an individual, through personal initiative, fixity of purpose, persistence, or endeavor, creates a program or system which has a significant positive impact on the law enforcement profession which would exceed the normal expectations of job performance;

(3) must have held a license at the time the qualifying act was performed;

(4) shall not ever have had a license suspended, revoked, cancelled, or voluntarily surrendered; and

(5) must not be in violation of Occupations Code, Chapter 1701 or rules of the commission.

(b) The nominations/recommendations for the achievement awards shall be filed as follows:

(1) received by the commission on or before December 31st of each year;

(2) must have been submitted by one of the following:

(A) an elected official of the state;

(B) an elected official of a political subdivision;

(C) an administrator of a law enforcement agency; or

(D) any person holding a current license issued by the commission; and

(3) shall be supported by acceptable evidence of the nominee's qualifications for the award. Such evidence may consist of evaluations, police reports, newspaper clippings, eyewitness accounts, or other valid, confirmable evidence, consisting of certified copies of documents and sworn affidavits.

(c) A committee shall be appointed by the executive director for the purpose of reviewing recommendations. Upon completion of the review, the committee will forward to the executive director nominees for consideration. The executive director will provide a list to the commissioners who will then make the final determination of who merits awards at a regularly scheduled meeting.

(d) The effective date of this section is February 1, 2014.

Source Note: The provisions of this §211.33 adopted to be effective March 1, 2001, 26 TexReg 222; amended to be effective February 1, 2014, 38 TexReg 9606