What are the military style ribbons that cops ware? Are they citation ribbons, or their military ribbons?

Question

I've noticed of late on the news and on the show "Cops" more and more police officers have these ribboons on there uniforms. I was wondering if any law enforcement agency can ask their people to put them on their uniforms if the ribbons are not for police action?

Answer 1

They're law enforcement citation ribbons.  All branches of the U.S. Armed Forces have imposed rules making it against regulations to wear military ribbons on any uniform other than a military uniform.

Answer 2

what do they look like? can you post a link to a picture?

Answer 3

I'd suspect that those ribbons are for commendations/awards earned for their law enforcement duties.

There is no provision that I know of in federal law which would allow cops to wear their military ribbons on their civilian uniforms. (I believe that there's a provision for Congressional Medal of Honor recipients to wear theirs but not for any other awards.)

Answer 4

So many guesses. So little know. Police agencies award various ribbons (and not all use them, by any means) for all sorts of things. One might represent an award for valor. Or line-of-duty wounds. They might signify special training, EMT, rangemaster, instructor, K-9, etc. They might signify years of service.

It's possible that some may duplicate one of the great many military designs, but it's not intentional. The military can regulate what its own personnel wear but have no power to regulate how others use their insignia or uniforms. Example: an enlisted man cannot pass as an officer by wearing an officer's rank and uniform. But no military or federal law criminalizes a civilian who, for instance, wears a Naval officer's uniform to pick up women or work a scam.