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G.O. 20 LONGWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER NUMBER: GO - 20 SUBJECT: EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION EFFECTIVE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 REVISED: JANUARY 1, 2023 GENERAL ORDER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION GO – 20 PAGE 1 OF 8 I. PURPOSE The purpose of this directive is to establish uniform procedures for recognizing employees for meritorious service. II. SCOPE It is the policy of the Longwood Police Department to recognize praiseworthy and commendable actions and efforts by employees while in the performance of their duties. Supervisors will participate in this program by recognizing employees who have performed in an exemplary manner. III. GENERAL The term “official recognition” is defined as letters of commendation and other awards that have been established to recognize the achievement and meritorious service of employees. A. Nominations: 1. Any employee of the Longwood Police Department may nominate any other employee for an award or commendation through the chain of command. 2. Supervisors will recognize exceptional performance by employees under their supervision and to forward nominations through the chain of command. B. Procedure for Nomination: GENERAL ORDER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION GO – 20 PAGE 2 OF 8 Whenever an employee of the Longwood Police Department has performed an act or rendered service that qualifies for recognition, the following nomination procedure will be followed: 1. The written nomination will be submitted in a timely fashion, in standard memorandum form titled “Recommendation for Award”, and must include a detailed and accurate account of the circumstances surrounding the act or incident. 2. The nomination will be forwarded through the chain of command to the chief of police accompanied by any comments or additional facts that may be related to the act. 3. Upon approval by the chief of police, the presentation of the awards will be made during an awards ceremony. 4. Any appeals regarding recommendations shall be forwarded to the chief of police, through the chain of command. The chief of police shall determine the final disposition of appeals. C. Awards: The following describes the name of the award(s) and what is presented: Name of Award What is Presented 1. Award of Valor Medal, Ribbon, Certificate 2. Purple Heart Ribbon, Certificate 3. Chief's Commendation Ribbon, Certificate 4. Community Service Award Certificate 5. Tenure (Length of Service) Award Pin, Service Bars 6. Administrative Excellence Certificate 7. Certificate of Appreciation Certificate 8. Employee of the Quarter Certificate/Designated Equipment 9. Employee of the Year Certificate / Plaque or Award 10. Rookie of the Year Certificate GENERAL ORDER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION GO – 20 PAGE 3 OF 8 D. Award Specifications: 1. Award of Valor: Presented by the chief of police on behalf of the citizens of the City of Longwood, it is the highest award that can be conferred upon any employee. It is awarded for acts of exceptional courage or bravery above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of imminent danger of loss of life. 2. Purple Heart: Awarded to sworn employees who have sustained serious injury while engaged in enforcement action under extremely hazardous conditions or as a result of an act of hostile intent. 3. Chief’s Commendation: Awarded at the discretion of the chief of police to any employee for effort and diligence beyond that normally required for the efficient accomplishment of their duties. May be awarded to the employee of the year. 4. Community Services Award: Presented to an employee for outstanding achievement or exceptional effort on behalf of the community; not normally a part of the employee’s regular duty. This award may be presented for life saving when there is no risk of bodily harm to the employee. This award may also be presented to citizens for demonstrating similar efforts. 5. Tenure (Length of Service) Award: Presented to employees in recognition of length of service at increments of four consecutive years. Employees are also presented with a service bar, each star representing four years of service, that are to be worn above the name plate over the right breast pocket of the uniform. 6. Administrative Excellence Award: Presented to an employee for efforts in promoting efficiency within the administration of the Longwood Police Department. GENERAL ORDER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION GO – 20 PAGE 4 OF 8 7. Certificate of Appreciation: This award serves to recognize employees for exceptional effort toward the accomplishment of the Longwood Police Department mission. This award may also be presented to citizens for assistance toward law enforcement. 8. Employee of the Quarter: Award for outstanding service provided to an employee on a quarterly basis after being nominated and selected for meeting criteria listed in this directive. 9. Employee of the Year: Award for outstanding service provided to an employee on an annual basis after being nominated and selected for meeting the criteria listed in this directive. 10. Rookie of the Year: Award for outstanding service provided to a sworn employee that has been employed for less than a year. E. Display of Awards: 1. Employees shall display all ribbons awarded when wearing their class A uniform. 2. Non-uniformed employees may display ribbons (in miniature) and tenure pins. IV. EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER AND EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: A. Employees being considered for recognition under this program must meet the following minimum criteria: 1. Employed by the police department for one year prior to nomination 2. Received a minimum of “Meets Standards” ratings in all categories on their last performance review GENERAL ORDER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION GO – 20 PAGE 5 OF 8 3. Received no disciplinary action within the past year from the date of nomination for Employee of the Quarter or Year 4. Employee must have demonstrated outstanding performance while completing their regular duties or a special project during the respective nomination period. Categories to be considered when recommending and awarding an employee this recognition include but are not limited to; a. Community Relations b. Leadership c. Professionalism d. Dedication e. Job knowledge f. Quality of work 5. The criteria used to nominate, consider, or award an employee with these recognitions will not include consideration of an employee’s citation or arrest productivity levels. B. Employee of the Quarter and Year Nomination and Selection: 1. An employee may be nominated for Employee of the Quarter or Employee of the Year recognition by any other employee of the department. 2. An employee may not nominate themselves for Employee of the Quarter or Employee of the Year recognition. 3. An employee may not be nominated anonymously. 4. Nominations for these recognitions will be requested by the chief of police regularly. C. Nomination Format: 1. Quarterly and Yearly award nominations will be made in memorandum form including a detailed explanation of the recommendation. GENERAL ORDER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION GO – 20 PAGE 6 OF 8 2. The nomination will be signed and dated and will be forwarded to the chief of police through the nominating employee’s chain of command. 3. The chief of police will present nominations to the Employee Recognition Team for review. D. Employee Recognition Team: 1. The Employee Recognition Team will consist of seven employees; one officer from traffic, one officer from investigations, two officers from patrol, one sergeant, one lieutenant, and one non-sworn employee. They will meet each quarter to review nominations and select the employee of the quarter and annually to select an employee of the year. 2. The team members will be selected by the chief of police and will serve on the team for no more than two years. 3. Should a member of the team be nominated for this recognition, they will be temporarily replaced on the team for that nomination period. 4. The team members will maintain confidentiality on all discussions and information addressed at the meetings. 5. Following a review of all nominations, the team’s decision will be reached by a majority vote, and the team will submit the decision in memorandum form to the chief of police. V. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR A. Employees being consider for recognition under this program must meet the following minimum criteria: 1. Employed by the police department under one year prior to nomination 2. Employee must be sworn police officer 3. Received no disciplinary action from the employment start date 4. Employee must have demonstrated outstanding performance while completing their regular duties or a special project during the respective nomination period. Categories to be considered when recommending and awarding an employee this recognition include but are not limited to: a. Community Relations GENERAL ORDER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION GO – 20 PAGE 7 OF 8 b. Leadership c. Professionalism d. Dedication e. Job knowledge f. Quality of work 5. The criteria used to nominate, consider, or award an employee with these recognitions will not include consideration of an employee’s citation or arrest productivity levels. B. Nomination Format: 1. Award will be made in memorandum form including a detailed explanation of the recommendation. 2. The nomination will be signed and dated and will be forwarded to the chief of police through the nominating employee’s chain of command. 3. The chief of police will present nominations to the Employee Recognition Team for review. C. Employee Recognition Team: 1. The Employee Recognition Team will consist of seven employees; one officer from traffic, one officer from investigations, two officers from patrol, one sergeant, one lieutenant, and one non-sworn employee. They will meet each quarter to review nominations and select the employee of the quarter and annually to select an employee of the year. 2. The team members will be selected by the chief of police and will serve on the team for no more than two years. 3. The team members will maintain confidentiality on all discussions and information addressed at the meetings. 4. Following a review of all nominations, the team’s decision will be reached by a majority vote, and the team will submit the decision in memorandum form to the chief of police. GENERAL ORDER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION GO – 20 PAGE 8 OF 8 VI. LETTERS OF COMMENDATION A. Letters of commendation may be initiated by a supervisor at any level of the chain of command in recognition of exceptional service by an employee. Supervisors are encouraged to recognize employees in this fashion. B. Letters of commendation will be written in memorandum form and titled “Letter of Commendation”, and directed to the chief of police through the chain of command. C. Letters of commendation may be issued directly by the chief of police in recognition of employees whose actions have resulted in a positive response from the public. VII. RECORDS A. Copies of letters of commendation, and written records of all other awards will be forwarded to chief of police’s assistant to be added to the employee’s personnel file. B. Supervisors will record the reception of letters of commendation or other awards in the employee’s performance reviews.