The South African Police Star for Distinguished Service was a high-ranking decoration that existed between 1963 and 1986. Originally a dual-purpose decoration for bravery and for outstanding service, it was converted into an award for senior officers only in 1979. Recipients were entitled to use the post-nominal letters SOO, standing for , the Latin form of the name.
Instituted on 20 May 1963, retrospective to 31 May 1961, the SOO superseded the
Queen's Police Medal
The King's Police Medal (KPM) is awarded to police in the United Kingdom for gallantry or distinguished service. It was also formerly awarded within the wider British Empire, including Commonwealth countries, most of which now have their own hono ...
. It was awarded to all ranks of the
South African Police
The South African Police (SAP) was the national police force and law enforcement agency in South Africa from 1913 to 1994; it was the ''de facto'' police force in the territory of South West Africa (Namibia) from 1939 to 1981. After South A ...
, for particular gallantry, or for outstanding service, resourcefulness, leadership, or sense of responsibility and personal example.
When the SAP awards system was revised in 1979, the SOO was re-defined as a decoration for general officers who had rendered meritorious service promoting the efficiency of the SAP and contributing actively to national security. A new decoration, the
SA Police Star for Outstanding Service, was instituted to replace the SOO's original role.
The SOO is a gold six-pointed multi-rayed star. On the obverse is a green six-pointed star depicting the "torch of life", the "wings of peace", and the "scales of justice". The reverse displays the national coat of arms and the words "Distinguished Service" and "{{lang, af, Voortreflike Diens".
The ribbon is white, edged in green and red (left) and orange and blue (right). In its original form, the decoration was worn on the chest. In its post-1979 form, it was worn around the neck, and on ceremonial occasions it was worn on a silver-gilt collar instead of the ribbon.
The SOO was discontinued on 1 September 1986. After that date, police generals were awarded the
Order of the Star of South Africa
The Order of the Star of South Africa is a South African National Order that consisted of seven decorations in two military and five non-military classes. The order was discontinued on 2 December 2002.
Institution
The Order of the Star of South ...
(Non-Military) instead.
See also
*
South African civil honours
South African orders, decorations and medals are those military and civilian orders, decorations and medals issued by the Government of South Africa. The following is a (non-exhaustive) list of these:
Historical orders, decorations and medals
M ...
*
South African police decorations
An overview of South African police decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.
South African Police
The South African Police was established in 1913 as a national police force. It had a secondary military rol ...
References
* Alexander, E. G. M., Barron G. K. B. and Bateman, A. J. (1986). ''South African Orders, Decorations and Medals''. Human and Rousseau.
* Monick, S. (1988). ''Awards of the South African Uniformed Public Services 1912-1987''. South African National Museum of Military History.
External links
South African Medals Website
Law enforcement in South Africa
Police decorations and medals of South Africa
1963 establishments in South Africa
Awards established in 1963
1986 disestablishments in South Africa