History
The Garda medal was instituted at the behest of Colonel Walter Scott, a New York philanthropist who took an interest in policing. In 1923 he gave a one thousand dollar gold Bond which would pay for in perpetuity a gold medal.
The award was to be presented for under the following condition: No action, however heroic, will merit 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 1925, Scott presented a further 500 dollar bond to present silver and bronze medals. These medals were for officers who performed similar acts in the execution of duty but with less risk to their lives and who are next in order of merit.
In 1942, the award condition was amended to most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty.
Read more about this topic: Scott Medal
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