Punjab DGP launches ‘Appreciate and Commend’ initiative to honor police officers

The Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, launched the ‘Appreciate and Commend’ initiative as a progressive step to recognise and reward exemplary service within the state police force. This programme seeks to motivate police personnel by acknowledging their professionalism, integrity, and acts of courage through a formal system of appreciation. The initiative reflects the Punjab Police’s commitment to promoting a culture of encouragement, transparency, and merit-based recognition.

Background and Objective

The Punjab Police, one of India’s oldest and most disciplined forces, has consistently been at the forefront of maintaining law and order, combating organised crime, and addressing social challenges such as drug trafficking and cybercrime. However, given the demanding and often high-risk nature of policing, morale and motivation play a vital role in maintaining operational effectiveness.
Recognising this, the DGP of Punjab, as part of internal reform and welfare measures, introduced the ‘Appreciate and Commend’ initiative to build a reward-driven professional culture within the force. The scheme aims to:

• Acknowledge outstanding performance by officers and personnel at all ranks.
• Encourage initiative, innovation, and public service excellence.
• Strengthen morale and create a sense of pride among field officers.
• Enhance public trust by promoting transparency and accountability in recognition practices.

Launch and Implementation

The initiative was formally launched at the Punjab Police Headquarters in Chandigarh, where the DGP announced a structured mechanism to identify and reward deserving personnel. The launch event emphasised the importance of recognising dedication and good policing practices in everyday duties, not just during high-profile cases.
The ‘Appreciate and Commend’ programme is managed directly under the DGP’s office, with coordination from zonal, range, and district-level heads. Each supervisory officer is required to nominate police personnel who demonstrate exceptional service or notable contribution in areas such as:

• Detection and prevention of crime.
• Public safety and humanitarian assistance.
• Traffic management and community policing.
• Professional excellence in investigation, cyber surveillance, and counter-narcotics operations.
• Integrity, honesty, and discipline in service conduct.

Process and Recognition Mechanism

The initiative functions through a two-tier evaluation and recommendation system:

1. District and Unit-Level Recommendations: Senior officers identify and forward names of deserving personnel based on monthly performance reports and specific acts of merit.
2. Headquarters Review and Approval: The DGP office reviews the recommendations and approves commendation certificates or medals for eligible officers.

Recognition under this initiative may take several forms:

• Commendation Certificates presented by the DGP or Range DIG.
• Cash Rewards for officers who show exceptional commitment in major cases or public welfare projects.
• Public Appreciation Posts shared on Punjab Police’s official digital platforms, highlighting officers’ achievements.
• Letters of Praise from the DGP’s office to individual officers and their respective superintendents.

The entire process is designed to be transparent, merit-based, and free from hierarchical bias. It also ensures that personnel from all branches—law and order, intelligence, technical services, and traffic—are equally eligible for recognition.

Key Features and Highlights

• Digital Documentation: Every appreciation entry is digitally recorded in the officer’s service dossier, contributing to their career profile and promotion record.
• Frequency: Awards and commendations are issued on a monthly and quarterly basis, ensuring continual recognition of effort.
• Inclusivity: Both gazetted and non-gazetted ranks are covered, including constables, head constables, sub-inspectors, and officers of higher grades.
• Public Transparency: Achievements are shared via official press releases and social media to promote community awareness of good policing.

Motivation and Expected Outcomes

The initiative is expected to yield wide-ranging benefits for police morale and efficiency:

• Enhanced Motivation: Regular recognition boosts morale and inspires others to emulate best practices.
• Team Cohesion: Encouraging collective achievements promotes teamwork and cooperation among units.
• Professional Standards: By setting benchmarks for exemplary conduct, the initiative raises the overall quality of policing.
• Public Confidence: When citizens witness ethical and efficient policing being recognised, it fosters trust and partnership between the public and the police.

The DGP underscored that the ‘Appreciate and Commend’ scheme was not just a reward system but part of a larger transformation initiative aimed at building a responsive and empathetic police force attuned to public needs.

Examples of Recognised Efforts

Under the programme, several police officers and constables have been commended for:

• Successful detection of major criminal cases.
• Recoveries in anti-drug operations and seizures of illegal substances.
• Timely rescue efforts during accidents and natural calamities.
• Effective community engagement initiatives in villages and urban neighbourhoods.
• Use of digital tools and innovation to solve cases efficiently.

Officers who received commendations were honoured in official ceremonies, often with public participation, thereby reinforcing the positive image of Punjab Police as a people-centric institution.

Integration with Broader Police Reforms

The ‘Appreciate and Commend’ initiative is part of the Punjab Police’s comprehensive reform strategy, which includes:

• Technology-driven policing through data analytics and e-governance.
• Skill development and training programmes for field personnel.
• Police welfare measures focusing on physical and mental well-being.
• Community policing campaigns aimed at rebuilding trust between citizens and the force.

Together, these measures mark a shift from traditional enforcement-oriented policing to a more inclusive and people-friendly model.

Significance and Legacy

The ‘Appreciate and Commend’ initiative embodies a modern approach to police leadership—one that values recognition, motivation, and ethical conduct as pillars of effective law enforcement. It institutionalises appreciation as an integral part of personnel management, ensuring that exemplary service receives visibility and formal acknowledgement.