Award Categories and eligibility criteria:

1. Award of Merit:
   To be presented to a member, a member's K-9, or the team for a particular outstanding job on a case, or a long-term high level of performance in the field of police K-9 work.

2. Distinguished Service Award:
   To be presented to a member who has demonstrated a pattern of service above that which is normally displayed, to the improvement and the betterment of the International Police Work Dog Association.

3. Award of Valor:
   To be presented to a member, a member's K-9, or the team for an act in which the aforementioned risked severe personal injury or death, to accomplish their mission, or to save another threatened with severe personal injury or death.

4. Bill Faus Jr Award

5. The Bill Faus Jr. Award will be presented to a recipient that is in good standing with IPWDA and nominated by anyone with prior knowledge of the person in dedicating their life and career to the betterment, education, training, and support of Police K-9's.
   
    

Who may be considered for these awards?
Only International Police Work Dog Association members in good standing or the member's K-9 partner.

Who may nominate a member for these awards?
Anyone who has personal knowledge of the acts being performed.

How to nominate a member.
A letter of nomination must be written detailing what the nominee has done to qualify for the award. This letter must be mailed to the Awards Committee Chairperson. To be received no later than June 1st, will not be acted on until the following year. Also include any and all media accounts of detail to which speaks of the nominee.

Procedure for deciding if the award will be presented.
The Awards Committee Chairperson will appoint two (2) members, the committee will consist of these three (3) members. The committee will review the nomination and if necessary conduct any further investigation into the facts as may be necessary to confirm the information detailed in the letter of nomination. After they have all the information they feel is needed, they will vote on whether or not the award will be presented. Majority vote will prevail. The Executive Board's decision will be final.

Procedure following the vote.
The person making the nomination will be advised of the decision of the committee. If the vote was "no", then no further action will be taken. If the vote was "yes", then the appropriate award will be obtained by the Chairperson of the committee, within a reasonable time. Once the award has been obtained, the President of the IPWDA will be notified. The President will then send a letter to the nominee advising him/her that the award has been obtained and when and where the award will be presented, so the member can make arrangements to be present. If at all possible the award will be presented either at an IPWDA workshop or at an IPWDA meeting.

Requirements for Bill Faus Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award

The Bill Faus Jr. Award will be presented to a recipient that is in good standing with IPWDA and nominated by anyone with prior knowledge of the person in dedicating their life and career to the betterment, education, training, and support of Police K-9's.

This is a very special award that will be difficult to receive and the potential recipient will be scrutinized in a most thorough manner. An investigation will be conducted by the President and Vice President along with the sitting Awards Chairman. Their recommendation will be forwarded to the membership for their approval.

This is a lifetime award along with lifetime membership into the Association. The award with be presented to the recipient by Master Trainer Bill Faus Sr. at the annual awards banquet.