Medal of Courage of the Israel Police
Hebrew name: Itur HaOmets
The decoration is awarded for an act of gallantry
at the risk of life and in the line of duty, revealing extraordinary
courage. This decoration is awarded by the Chief Commissioner of Police.
Design
The designer of the medal was Nathan Karp. The original medal is a silver
disc of 39 mm diameter and weight 25 gr., showing a stylized candelabra
and the police emblem between two olive branches. The ribbon is blue with
two thin red stripes. The medals were first minted by Kretschmer of Jerusalem in 1974 and issued by the Israel Government Coins and
Medals Corporation, of silver.
Awards to civilians
The Medal of Valor, Medal of Courage and Medal of Distinguished Service may be awarded to civilians that do not belong
to the police force, for acts performed by legal use of arrest authority, by fulfilling a legal duty, in assistance to police personnel
performing a legal arrest, or during serious crimes or public disaster.
Medal versions found:
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Early version - minted by Kretschmer
Medal: silver medal.
Without silver mark.
Probably most of them show a serial number (here covered).
Clasp: Dimensions 45.2 x14 mm.
Silver mark 925 on the lower right corner.
Ribbon width 40 mm.
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Early version 2 - minted by Kretschmer
Medal: silver medal with silver mark 925 but without serial number.
Clasp: Dimensions ~45x14 mm. Silver mark 925 on the lower left corner.
Ribbon width 40 mm.
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Version with error
Not produced by
Kretchmer.
Medal: nickel. The police symbol has an error: the hebrew letter "mem" is upside down.
Click here for a detailed look at
the errors.
Clasp: Dimensions 41.5 x 15 mm, chrome covered metal
Ribbon width 40 mm.
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Version found around 2022
Medal: Silver with stamp S-925
Clasp: Clutch back |
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Version found in 2025
Medal: silver
with stamp.
Clasp, no clutch back
The style of the candelabra was changed again
and candles appear on the arms. The police emblem is smaller and
also the olive brances were changed.
If you know more about this version, please let me know. israelidecorations@gmail.com
Click here to see the wooden presentation box of this
medal. |
At some stage, the design of the medal was changed, as can be seen in the picture below.
The police symbol was enlarged and the arms of the candelabra have a
uniform depth and lost the original form as designed by Nathan Karp.
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| Left:the Original Design and Right: the Later design |
Samples of used ribbons:
Award Document
