The Governor’s Public Safety Awards Program was initiated by Governor Zell Miller in 1998 in order to provide an opportunity for the men and women of Georgia’s public safety community to be recognized for outstanding service to the citizens of Georgia.
As per Governor Miller, “While we have appropriately honored those who have fallen in the line of duty, I would like to establish a program that honors those who by virtue of their personal integrity and determination make public safety the respectable profession it is.”
To this end, the Governor’s Public Safety Awards Program recognizes (1) those men and women who have gone “above and beyond the call of duty” to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Georgia and (2) those who have made significant contributions to their profession.
Eligibility
To be nominated for an award in the GPSA program:
- The Nominee must be an employee or an official volunteer of a bonafide public safety organization.
- The Nominee must have engaged in “above and beyond the call of duty” activity in one or both of the Award Categories.
- The Nomination can be made by an individual, agency, association, or citizen, and must be submitted via the nomination form on the website at https://georgiagovernorspublicsafetyawards.org.
- The Nominee shall be free of any pending disciplinary actions.
- Nominations for the Act of Heroism Award shall only be considered timely if presented at the selection Committee meeting occurring in the year following the close of the Fiscal year of this occurrence. Waiver of this requirement may be considered if the event is involved in an ongoing investigation, or there are other extenuating circumstances the committee feels should be considered.
Award Categories
Two categories of awards will be established:
The first will recognize Acts of Heroism or Outstanding Deeds which resulted in the protection of life and/or property. When submitting a nomination via the website a letter of support from the agency head, state wide association or state wide board should be uploaded with the supporting documents of the nomination. If one cannot be provided then the nomination cannot be accepted.
The second category recognizes Contribution to Profession or Outstanding Job Performance which serves to enhance the public safety profession. Anyone nominated for this award should have a minimum of 25 years of service and be someone who has made a significant contribution to the betterment of their profession. Significant consideration to be given to impact outside the nominees local area, including leadership and contributions on regional, state and national issues related to the profession. If a nomination is submitted posthumously, the nomination may only be considered if received within one (1) year of the nominee’s passing. Additionally, the nominee must have been an active employee at the time of death. All other requirements for this category must still exist (25 years of service and have a significant contribution to the betterment of their profession). When submitting a nomination via the website a letter of support from the agency head, state wide association or statewide board should be uploaded with the supporting documents of the nomination. If one cannot be provided then the nomination cannot be accepted.
These categories are not intended to recognize employees for merely “doing a good job,” or responding to a call, but to recognize employees who actually go beyond the ordinary to protect Georgia’s citizens and property, or who contribute significantly to the public safety profession.
Selection
Recipients may be selected from each of the following public safety groups:
- Emergency Management
- Municipal & County Police
- County Law Enforcement
- Fire Service
- 911/Communications
- Emergency Medical Service
- State Public Safety Agencies
- Public Safety Divisions within State Agencies
- DOT Hero Personnel
- Prosecuting Attorneys
Selection of individual recipients from each group will be the responsibility of the Public Safety Awards Committee. Selections will be forwarded to the Governor’s Office for final approval. The Governor will be the final selection authority.
Nomination Format/Documentation Criteria
The Governor’s Public Safety Awards Committee will provide information describing the nomination format and documentation criteria to public safety associations for dissemination to their respective constituents. Nomination form and criteria will also be posted on the Georgia Public Safety Training Center Website.
Adopted March 18, 1999
Revised June 15, 2005
Approved by Board of Public Safety July 13, 2005
Amended September 14, 2012
Approved by Board of Public Safety January 10, 2013
Amended October 18, 2013
Approved by Board of Public Safety August 14, 2014
Amended September 22, 2014
Approved by Board of Public Safety November 13, 2014
Amended September 11, 2018
Approved by Board of Public Safety October 18, 2018
Amended February 1, 2024
Approved by the Board of Public Safety February 8, 2024