POLICE CHIEF OF THE YEAR AWARD
RUSSELL B. LAINE ILACP LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
POLICE AWARD DESCRIPTIONS
  1. James J. Wade "MOST OUTSTANDING OFFICER OF THE YEAR" Award
    1. Nominations may be made for exceptional including, but not limited to, extraordinary valor, crime prevention, detective work, community relations, juvenile programs, drug control and prevention, training programs, traffic safety, and innovative approaches to public service. All nominees should have maintained the highest standard of performance, professionalism, and effectiveness during the previous calendar year, January 1st to December 31st.
    2. Chief Executive Officer not eligible for this award.
    3. Plaque and other appropriate gift of recognition.
    4. Presentation will be made at the annual conference banquet.

  2. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
    1. To be awarded in recognition of those detectives or investigators who are often not recognized for solving cases, yet are important in the investigation of all types of cases.
    2. The nominee must be the primary or lead investigator who completed the majority of the investigative tasks that resolved the case.
    3. One or more significant events of the investigation must have occurred during the year of the award.
    4. Significant events are defined as felonious indictments/criminal charges, locating high-risk missing/abducted persons, solving of cold case death/homicide investigations, disruption of criminal enterprises, and other “similar in scope” events.

  3. MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION
    1. Units/Task Forces who perform an act or a series of acts during the year of the award which demonstrate a high degree of teamwork and professionalism which result in the attainment of the units mission goals in an exemplary manner.  For example:
      • Significant seizures of contraband, dangerous drugs, fruits of crimes, stolen/counterfeit property, etc...
      • Indictments/criminal charges for felonious crimes related to purpose of unit.
      • High clearance rate of investigation(s) related to the purpose of the applying unit (narcotics, homicides, auto theft, organized crime, etc...). 

  4. THE "POLICE CROSS"
    1. Medal to be awarded where an officer lost his or her life in the performance of duty under honorable circumstances.
    2. Chief Executives should contact the Chairman of the Awards Committee immediately upon an officer's death. The medal will be awarded to the family at the annual conference banquet.
    3. Dinner tickets for family representative and guest at the conference banquet.

  5. THE "POLICE MEDAL OF VALOR"
    1. The Medal of Valor is to be awarded for extraordinary heroism at imminent risk of serious bodily injury or death, with the recipient demonstrating courage in an extremely dangerous situation.
    2. Presentation will be made by a member of the Board of Officers, the Awards Committee or the ILACP Executive Board for public recognition in the jurisdiction where the incident took place.

  6. THE "LIFE SAVING AWARD" CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
    1. To be awarded to all sworn and non-sworn police personnel directly responsible for the saving of human life.
    2. Documentation and supporting evidence must be included to substantiate the award, such as statements from witnesses, physicians, or supervisors. The award may also be made where evidence indicates the actions by the officer prolonged a human life to the extent of the victim being released to the care of medical authorities, even though the victim might expire at a later time.
    3. Presentation will be made by a member of the Board of Officers, the Awards Committee or the ILACP Executive Board for public recognition in the jurisdiction where the incident took place.

  7. CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
    1. To be awarded to individuals who, by their actions or deeds in support of law enforcement or public safety, merit recognition by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.
    2. Presentation will be made by a member of the Board of Officers, the Awards Committee or the ILACP Executive Board for public recognition in the jurisdiction where the incident took place.

  8. TEN SHARED PRINCIPLES AWARD
a. The award is designed to recognize a commitment to and notable, demonstrable achievement in supporting or advocating for the Ten Shared Principles of Public Safety during the preceding calendar year.
b. Award category recipients include:
        • Law enforcement agency
        • Law enforcement individual member (civilian or sworn)
        • Citizen
        • Non-law enforcement organization

c. The criteria are as follows:

        • A demonstrated excellence in advocating for or supporting the Principles with a tangible product, process, or project that has had a successful impact on others.
        • Implementation of a creative and innovative approach that has made a difference in supporting any of the individual Principles.

d. Eligibility:

        • Any law enforcement agency in the State of Illinois
        • Any sworn or civilian individual member of a law enforcement agency in the State of Illinois
        • Any citizen of the State of Illinois
        • A private company, organization, non-profit or advocacy group in the State of Illinois
        • One or more elements must have occurred during the award year.
POLICE & CITIZEN AWARD NOMINATION FORMS 
POLICE AWARDS POLICY
It is the policy of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police to recognize police personnel for their significant contribution to the cause of law enforcement in the State of Illinois.

Police Awards Procedure:
All sworn officers or civilian support personnel of local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are eligible for consideration.

  1. Nominations for these awards shall be made by the Chief Executive or the administrator of the nominating agency, who is a member of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. Agency heads must not only consider the one act of the officer, but should also keep in mind his/her total performance within the agency. These nominations must be of the highest standards. Nomination of the Chief Executive for an award should be made by another Chief Executive who is a member of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.
  2. Nominations should be submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Police and Citizens Awards Committee. The committee will then review and may recommend that the nominating agency handle those awards at the local level. Where practical, nominations should first be considered for award purposes at the regional police chief association level or other local level, before being considered by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.
  3. Nominations must be received by February 1st each year. All "Police Cross" awards, the "James J. Wade Most Outstanding Officer of the Year" award, and the "Chief of the Year" award will be presented at the conference banquet dinner each year. All other awards will be presented in the jurisdiction where the incident took place, by a member of the Board of Officers, Awards Committee, or Executive Board for public recognition. [REV 5/23]
  4. Nominations may be forwarded by the Chairman of the Awards Committee to the Annual Parade/International Association of Chiefs of Police Award Committee for additional consideration.
  5. The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Board of Officers, through the Vice-President with oversight responsibility over the committee, shall have the final review of the award recipients upon the recommendation of the Awards Committee.

CITIZEN AWARDS POLICY

It is the policy of ILACP to recognize a citizen or citizens for their significant contribution to the cause of Law Enforcement in the State of Illinois.

Citizen Awards Procedure

  1. Nominations for the award shall be made by any member of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police through the chief executive or the administrator of the nominating agency.
  2. Nominations must be submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Awards Committee by February 1st of each year (for recognition of the previous year, January 1 through December 31). [REV 5/23]
  3. Committee members shall review the material received and recommend the approval or denial of the nomination.
  4. If denied, the chairman will notify the nominator in writing or recommend that the nominating agency handle at the local level.
  5. If approved, the Chairman will: 
    1. Prepare the award plaque or certificate.
    2. Prepare a presentation letter from the Association.
    3. Request the nominating agency send back to the chairman copies of any local news releases and/or photographs covering the presentation for use by the committees in publicizing the award in the COMMAND magazine and/or other news releases.
    4. Mail or ship the award to the nominator for presentation to the recipient.
  6. Nominations must be received by February 1st each year. [REV 5/23]

Citizen Award Descriptions

  1. Outstanding citizen award for a significant contribution to law enforcement in Illinois.
  2. Citizen award certificate for action which merits attention and commendation, but not necessarily a significant contribution.

Laurence P. Mulcrone Public Private Partnership Award Description

  • Annual award given to an outstanding Illinois citizen in the private security industry, or to a private security company, or to a private company’s division or unit responsible for the administration of loss prevention programs for business and industry.   
  • Consideration is given for a significant contribution to law enforcement in Illinois.
Police & Citizen Awards Nomination Form (Printable Only)
Police & Citizen Awards Nomination Form (Fillable PDF)