The Walter Scott Medal for Valor is a medal awarded for acts of bravery by the Garda Síochána .
8-544: It is not a state award, being in the gift of the Garda Commissioner . The Garda medal was instituted at the behest of Colonel Walter Scott, a New York City philanthropist who took an interest in policing. In 1923 he gave to the Garda a one thousand dollar gold Bond, which would pay in perpetuity for a gold medal. The award was to be presented under the following condition: No action, however heroic, will merit
16-655: A Dublin-based teacher who also designed the Garda Síochána crest. The medal is a Celtic cross which is 44 millimetres (1.7 in) in diameter with five panels on the face. The inscription on the top panel is "The Scott Medal" and on the lower panel "For Valor" (note the American English usage of the word "valour"). On the right and left are the eagle and shield of the United States and the harp and sunburst of Ireland , respectively. The centerpiece
24-462: Is responsible for Ireland's domestic state security apparatus. The current Garda Commissioner is Drew Harris , former Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI , who took office on 3 September 2018. The Garda Síochána will succeed not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people. — Inaugural Garda Commissioner Michael Staines , 1922 Michael Staines became
32-578: Is the Garda Crest with the intertwined letters G.S. for Garda Síochána. The reverse is inscribed "Gharda Síochána na h-Éireann". The four outside panels are the arms of the four provinces of Ireland, Ulster , Munster , Leinster and Connaught . Garda Commissioner The Garda Commissioner ( Irish : Coimisinéir na nGardaí ) – officially known as the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána ( Irish : Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána ) –
40-802: Is the head of the Garda Síochána , the national police force of Ireland . The Garda Commissioner is appointed by the Government of Ireland (Cabinet), on the recommendation of the Minister for Justice . The Commissioner reports to the Minister for Justice, in charge of the Department of Justice , of which the Garda Síochána is a state agency. The Garda Commissioner sits on the Irish Government's National Security Committee (NSC), and
48-473: The award of the Scott medal unless it takes the shape of an act of personal bravery, performed intelligently in the execution of duty at imminent risk to the life of the doer, and armed with full previous knowledge of the risk involved . In 1942, the award condition was amended to most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty . The medal was designed by John F. Maxwell,
56-583: The first Garda Commissioner in February 1922, when the force was founded as the Civic Guard. Traditionally, the Commissioner is the highest-ranking police officer in the state, however the selection process for the position is now open to candidates from outside the force, outside a law enforcement agency and outside of Ireland. Nóirín O'Sullivan made history in becoming the first woman to lead
64-468: The force when she was appointed in November 2014, having already served as the acting Garda Commissioner since March 2014. The Garda Commissioner sits at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park , Dublin 8 and is supported by a senior management team consisting of two Deputy Commissioners, a Chief Administrative Officer and eight Assistant Commissioners. There are also a number of Executive Directors, each with
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