34 U.S.C. § 51101 — Medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders
submitted this year by Pub. L. 119-94 to r/title-34-CRIME-CONTROL-AND-LAW-ENFORCEMENT · 797 words · no verdicts yet
The President must issue a medal to law-enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty, subject to the wrongdoing exception. A Commission sets eligibility details, awards named initial recipients, and designs the medal as specified.
(a) The President must issue a medal of sacrifice for law-enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. (b)(1) Local, State, Tribal, territorial, and Federal law-enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty qualify. (2)(A) A person otherwise qualifying but subject to an official finding of wrongdoing does not qualify. (B) The Commission must investigate the death, including agency findings, and make the final eligibility decision. (C) “Official finding of wrongdoing” means the superior officer or employing law-enforcement agency decided that the officer acted outside official duties or agency policies or procedures. (c)(1) The President must establish the Commission. (2) Within 150 days after May 28, 2026, the President must appoint 12 members who are law-enforcement officers, first responders, or knowledgeable organization representatives. (3) Members serve five years and may serve up to two terms, consecutive or not; the President fills vacancies. (4) Members are unpaid. (5) The Commission must advise on medal design, promote its establishment, decide how it is presented, make final wrongdoing-case decisions, and advise the President on eligibility criteria. (6) It must award the medal to Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller (Badge #8434), Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz (Badge #7637), and Deputy Luis Paez (Badge #3882). (7) It ends when the President decides it completed all paragraph (5) duties. (d) The medal must be a modified quatrefoil with rounded lobes from a central octagon. Its field uses features of the Great Seal redesigned by Tiffany & Co. in 1885: an eagle with the stated shield, crest, and “Integritas” motto. Around it are 47 alternating stars, three rampant lions, and four chevrons. “SACRIFICE” is inscribed at the bottom; three oak leaves at the lower right represent the United States tree, strength, resilience, and the families and widows of the fallen. The reverse is sandblasted and engraved with fallen heroes’ names. The medal hangs from an Azure or Gules ribbon depending on the hero, with the ribbon bail hand-soldered to the back. It is about 63 grams, 2.25 inches wide, made of Ag925 silver with 24k gold vermeil, with 2.5-micron vermeil plating. The silver and gold represent the value and honor of the service.
The President shall issue a medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders who were killed in the line of duty.
A local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal law enforcement officer or first responder who was killed in the line of duty shall be eligible for the medal of sacrifice established under subsection (a).
A local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal law enforcement officer or first responder who is killed in the line of duty, but who is subject to an official finding of wrongdoing, shall not be eligible for the medal of sacrifice established under subsection (a).
In the case of an official finding of wrongdoing, the Commission established under subsection (c) shall investigate the circumstances surrounding the law enforcement officer’s or first responder’s cause of death, including considering any findings by the local, State, Tribal, territorial, or Federal agency with respect to the officer’s or responder’s death. The Commission established under subsection (c) shall make a final determination as to the officer’s eligibility for the medal established under subsection (a).
In this paragraph, the term “official finding of wrongdoing” means a determination by the law enforcement officer’s or first responders’ superior officer or employing law agency that the officer acted outside of the scope of their duties or not in accordance with the agency’s official policies or procedures.
The President shall establish a Commission on the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders (hereinafter known as the “Commission”).
Not later than 150 days after May 28, 2026, the President shall appoint 12 members of the Commission. Such members shall be law enforcement officers, first responders, and representatives of organizations knowledgeable about law enforcement.
Members of the Commission shall be appointed for a term of 5 years and shall be eligible to serve up to two terms, either consecutively or non-consecutively. The President shall make appointments to fill such vacancies as may occur on the Board.
Members shall not be paid for serving on the Commission.
The Commission shall—
advise the Commission on the design of the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders;
promote the establishment of the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders;
determine how the medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders shall be presented;
make any final determination necessary pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(B); and
advise the President regarding criteria for assessing eligibility pursuant to subsection (b).
The Commission shall award the following law enforcement officers the medal of sacrifice:
Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller (Badge #8434);
Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz (Badge #7637); and
Deputy Luis Paez (Badge #3882).
The Commission shall cease to exist on the date on which the President determines that the Commission has completed each responsibility under paragraph (5).
The medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders shall be a modified quatrefoil, with rounded lobes extending from a central octagon. The field incorporates features of the Great Seal of the United States, redesigned by Tiffany & Co 1 in 1885. The American eagle is charged with a coat of arms as a shield, argent, on a chevron gules between three lions rampant azure, as many chevronels argent; the crest, out of a coronet or, a double-tailed lion rampant azure, holding in its dexter paw a torch or enflamed proper; and “Integritas” included as a motto. Surrounding the seal are mullets, 47 in number, alternating with three rampant lions and incorporating four chevrons. In base, the word “SACRIFICE” is inscribed. In dexter base, three oak leaves are placed, symbolizing the national tree of the U.S., representing strength, resilience, and honoring the families and widows of the fallen. The reverse of the medal is sandblasted and bears an engraving of the names of the fallen heroes. The medal is suspended from a ribbon, either Azure or Gules depending on the fallen hero being honored. The ribbon bail is prepared and attached by hand soldering to the back of the medal. The medal is crafted from Silver Ag925 with 24k Gold Vermeil, with a weight of approximately 63 grams. It has a diameter of 2.25 inches. The Vermeil plating has a thickness of 2.5 microns. The medal combines national symbols with heraldic elements to represent the sacrifice of the fallen deputies. The use of Silver and Gold signifies the value and honor associated with their service.
Source credit: (Pub. L. 119–94, § 2, May 28, 2026, 140 Stat. 830.)
- 2026Enacted · Pub. L. 119-94 · 140 Stat. 830
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 119-94 on 2026-05-28.
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