Each year, with the cooperation and participation of our Administrator, Colonel Sam Powell and political leaders, the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association bestows awards to deserving individuals. These are both sworn and civilian members of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and, unattached citizens who earn this honor through selfless acts of bravery or compassion for their fellow man. We are honored to post them here for the world to see.

The Medal of Valor

The Medal of Valor, our highest award, is presented to sworn officers only, who, at extreme, clear and direct risk to their own life or limb, save, rescue or protect another person from death or imminent grave bodily injury. The risk to the officer shall have been so great, that no blame could be laid upon the officer had he or she not acted.

The Distinguished Service Medal

The Distinguished Service Medal shall be presented to sworn or civilian employees. It shall be presented when in any one unusual or unique dangerous incident or series of events, a recipient demonstrates an unusually high degree of intelligence, courage, fortitude, strength, skill or tenacity, and such actions are above and beyond the general call of duty and greatly enhance the efficiency, or safety of the Wyoming Highway Patrol and / or it's employees.

The Combat Cross

The Combat Cross shall be presented to any sworn officer who actively, primarily, and directly, is involved in any confrontation with a violent adversary, wherein shots were fired, or direct hand to hand combat took place. Such hand to hand combat must have been extreme and taxing due to the suspect's strength or skill. Further, because of the officer's skill, intelligence, strength, accuracy and courage, the suspect was stopped or taken into custody without further threat to the public or other officers.

The Purple Heart

The Purple Heart shall be presented to any sworn officer who, in any law enforcement activity or emergency response action, on or off duty, sustains serious bodily injury. Serious bodily injury is defined as any trauma or internal injury, which requires the immediate attention of a medical doctor, and time off for recovery.

Exemplary Citizen

The Exemplary Citizen Award shall be presented to any civilian not attached to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, who, at great personal risk, comes to the aid of any Wyoming Highway Patrol Officer in need of assistance due to a combative suspect.

Meritorious Conduct

The Meritorious Conduct Award shall be presented to any Wyoming Highway Patrol employee who, in any unusual or unique incident, performs at a level deserving of peer group recognition; and, in the event of any other person not attached to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, performs above and beyond any level which would be expected of a civilian volunteer.

Carlie's Gift

This financial gift is very special. It is named for Carlie McDonald, who, on New Year's day in 1998, was killed by an intoxicated driver. Carlie, was the only child of WHP Lieutenant Carl McDonald. She was five years old. The award is based upon $5 for every DWUI arrest made in the previous year by members of the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Carlie's dad, Carl, selects that person or group, who, in his opinion, has contributed in some outstanding way to the fight against DWUI, either by enforcement or education and assistance.