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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-02-1997 - 9c 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 2, 1997 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Recognizing Heroism Policy DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/1) BUDGET AMENDMENT: (Y/1) ATTACHMENT(S): Nick Waters, Director of Emergency Proposed Policy Management Existing Policy Bob Lockwood, Chair, EMS Advisory Council TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 227-2031 INFORMATION CONTACT: PURPOSE: To consider approving a revised policy for recognizing heroism. BACKGROUND: In June 1995,the Board of Commissioners adopted a policy regarding the recognition of acts of heroism in Orange County. The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council was assigned the responsibility for developing recommendations from time to time to the Board of Commissioners concerning the presentation of awards to individuals who have performed heroic acts. During a series of meetings in 1996-97,the EMS Advisory Council developed a proposal for a more detailed policy that addresses review criteria for acts or service suggested for heroism awards, and identifies several different levels of awards. The Council also reviewed reports of several heroic acts and developed recommendations regarding awards to individuals for these acts. The Council's review was performed in the context of the recommendations the Council developed to refine the existing policy recognizing heroism. If the Board of Commissioners approves the revised policy, the recommendations for heroism awards could be brought for the Board's consideration at the next, or some subsequent,regular meeting of the Board. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the revised policy recognizing heroism. r r Z PROPOSED POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL MEETING DATE: June 2, 1997 NUMBER: P: 0210 EFFECTIVE DATE: June 2, 1997 REVISIONS: POLICY: RECOGNIZING HEROISM The EMS Advisory Council has been charged by the Orange County Board of Commissioners to screen applications/nominations for recognition of"heroic acts to save other citizens from harm or death". The EMS Advisory Council makes recommendations on awards; the Board of Commissioners makes the final decisions on awards. The following are criteria/considerations in both the Council's screening of, and the Board's decisions about,heroism awards: • although there is no standard format for nominations, sufficient detail must be provided in writing concerning the date, time,location, and nature of the act or service nominated to allow both the Council and Board of Commissioners to make informed evaluations (a suggested outline is available from the Orange County Department of Emergency Management) • nominations should be accompanied by first hand accounts or reliable media reports of the act or service performed • whether the actions of the nominee clearly stand out from those of others who may have been at the scene • whether the nominee provided the service or performed the act within the scope of his or her duties • whether the nominee lost his or her life trying to help someone in need should be considered for the award • different levels of award may be made depending on whether the nominee was in real (or perceived) danger of death or serious bodily harm • whether the nominee is acting in a civilian capacity at the time of service or act • whether the nominee is providing a service which they are professionally trained to provide on a regular basis • any citizen of Orange County can submit a nomination • any service or act performed in Orange County can be recognized,regardless of whether the nominee is an Orange County resident • if the nominee was not in danger of death or serious bodily harm,but still rendered service to someone who was, a different level of award may be recommended • any Orange County resident who performs an act or service may be nominated,even if the act or service did not take place in Orange County • any or all established criteria may be waived on a case-by-case basis by the EMS Advisory Council in recommending an award to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, if the Council determines that to do so would clearly advance the objectives of the heroism recognition program • nominations should be presented to the EMS Advisory Council within three years of the date of the act or service r t 3 ORANGE COUNTY AWARDS ** `Legion of Honor" Loss of life attempting Posthumous to save a life Plaque and citation to family #* "Courageous Action Award" Risked life or bodily Plaque, citation harm to save a life and medal ** `lifesaving Award" Appropriate actions Plaque,citation to save a life and medal * "Meritorious Action Award" Invoivment or Plaque and citation assistance to provide aid ** Citizen,or Public Safety Citizen All awardees names to be placed on a plaque in the Orange County Administrative building. Presentation of awards to be made at a public County Commissioners meeting. COMMUNITY HERO AWARD The Community Hero Award is to be reserved to recognize outstanding service to the Orange County community. Any citizen may recommend to a County Commissioncr or other county or city elected official a person to be nominated for The Community Hero Award. Criteria for this award may be for sustained or exceptional deeds bene$ting Orange County. The award would be by proclamation vote of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. This person, so honored,would be presented a lapel pin,clock and citation. Hfislher name to be engraved on a plaque located im the Orange County Administrative binding i 4 POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL MEETING DATE: June 26, 1995 NUMBER: P: 0210 EFFECTIVE DATE: June 26, 1995 REVISIONS: POLICY• RECOGNIZING HEROISM To recognize citizens in the community who have demonstrated heroic acts to save other citizens from harm or death, the Board of Commissioners have implemented the following process to identify possible recipients and officially recognize their service. The procedure is as follows : 1 . Identifying recipients. Recipients may be identified by any citizen living in Orange County. This would include the members of the Board of County Commissioners and members of any of the EMS or law enforcement agencies . Names may be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners ' office at P.O. Box 8181, Hillsborough. The EMS Advisory Council will screen the applications and make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners . The final decision for choosing the recipients will be made by the Board of County Commissioners. 2 . Making the presentation. The presentation will be made at a regular Board of County Commissioners meeting. It will include a lapel pin with the work "HERO" under the County Seal and a clock appropriately engraved.