EXECUTIVE ORDER
04-01

WHEREAS, public safety is a critical priority of this administration as it is vital to the State of Missouri and the well being of its citizens and communities; and

WHEREAS, this administration strives to ensure our state and local public safety officers are recognized for extraordinary displays of valor.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BOB HOLDEN, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, do hereby establish the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, and the Medal of Valor Review Board within the Department of Public Safety, as follows:

  1. Medal of Valor Review Board (the "Board") - shall be composed of 7 members appointed by the Governor in accordance with subsection B and shall conduct its business in accordance with this order.
  2. Membership -
    1. Members: The members of the Board shall be individuals with knowledge or expertise, whether by experience or training, in the field of public safety, and shall include:
      1. the Director of the Department of Public Safety or designee;
      2. a Police Chief;
      3. a Fire Chief;
      4. an elected County Sheriff; and
      5. 3 citizens, one with experience in firefighting, one with experience in law enforcement, and one with experience in corrections or emergency services.
    2. Term: The term of a Board member shall be 4 years.
    3. Vacancies: Any vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not affect the powers of the Board and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
    4. Operation of the Board:
      1. Chairman - The Chairman of the Board shall be elected by the members of the Board from among the members of the Board.
      2. Meetings - The Board shall conduct its first meeting not later than 90 days after the appointment of the last member of the initial group of members appointed to the Board. Thereafter, the Board shall meet at the call of the Chairman of the Board. The Board shall meet not less often than once each year and not more than 3 times each year.
      3. Voting and Rules - A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but the Board may establish a lesser quorum for conducting hearings scheduled by the Board. The Board may establish by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of the Board's business, if such rules are not inconsistent with this order or other applicable law.
  3. Duties - The Board shall nominate candidates as recipients of the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor from among those applications received by the Board members. Not more often than once each year, the Board shall present to the Governor the name or names of those it recommends as Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor recipients. In a given year, the Board shall not be required to nominate any recipients but may not select more than 7 recipients. The Governor may in extraordinary cases increase the number of recipients in a given year. The Board shall set an annual timetable for fulfilling its duties under the order.
  4. Information from Agencies - The Board may secure directly from any department or agency such information as the Board considers necessary to carry out its duties. Upon the request of the Board, the head of such department or agency may furnish such information to the Board.
  5. Information to be Kept Confidential - The Board shall not disclose any information which may compromise an ongoing law enforcement investigation or is otherwise required by law to be kept confidential.
  6. The members of the Board shall serve without compensation, except that the members may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses arising from Board activities or business. Such expenses shall be paid by the Department of Public Safety.
  7. Public Safety Officer - is defined as a person serving a public agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or emergency personnel. The term "law enforcement officer" includes a person who is a state or local corrections or court officer or a civil defense officer.

Beginning February 26, 2004, the Governor of the State of Missouri may award and present a Medal of Valor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a public safety officer who is cited by the Medal of Valor Review Board for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty.

This Executive Order may be cited as the "Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Order of 2004."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 3rd day of February, 2004.

[Bob Holden's signature]

BOB HOLDEN
GOVERNOR

ATTEST:

[Matt Blunt's signature]
SECRETARY OF STATE

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