During the process of routing the 15.2 to add this new ribbon to the Department Manual, Volume 3 Management Rules and Procedures, Uniforms and Equipment, it was decided to rename the Reserve Exceptional Service Ribbon as the Reserve Distinguished Service Ribbon. As the Department stated: “During the review process, there were concerns that the name of the ribbon (‘Service Ribbon’) has the connotation that it was a time-of-service ribbon, such as the Patrol Service Ribbon or Detective Service Ribbon. For consistency with some of the other merit-based awards, the ribbon was renamed as the ‘Reserve Distinguished Service Ribbon,’ similar to the Police Distinguished Service Ribbon or the Police Commission Distinguished Service Medal.”
If you received a Reserve Officer of the Year award at the May 2024 Gala, or at any time in the past, for Division/Area, Bureau or Department of the Year, remember you are eligible to receive the Reserve Distinguished Service Ribbon.
In the Department Notice dated February 23, 2017, the chair of the Uniform Committee, Deputy Chief William A. Murphy, announced newly approved uniform and equipment items approved by the Committee and the Chief of Police. This included, as per the Notice:
“The Department has approved the creation of a Department ribbon commemorating the accomplishment of reserve police officers who are awarded the Divisional, Bureau, and Department reserve police officer of the year awards.
“Each year, reserve police officers are recognized by the Los Angeles Police Reserve Foundation (LAPRF) and the Department during the Twice a Citizen award ceremony. To increase the recognition of this honor, Reserve Police Officer Michael Sellars, Serial #R2356, Co-President of the LAPRF, Hollywood Area, recommended that the Department create the [Distinguished] Service Ribbon for the Reserve Officer of the Year.”
The design of the ribbon is based on the Reserve Service Ribbon with the gold center replacing the white center, with devices added for the Bureau and Department honor respectively. Officers can wear the ribbon and device for the highest single Reserve Officer of the Year awarded to date.
To get this ribbon, contact Mel Kennedy at melbruken@gmail.com.