Posthumous Medals of Sacrifice Awarded to Fallen Palm Beach Law Enforcement Officers by Trump

President Donald Trump awarded the first Medals of Sacrifice posthumously to fallen Palm Beach, Florida, law enforcement officers on Monday. The medals were presented to the loved ones of Corporal Luis Paez Jr., Deputy Sheriff Ralph ‘Butch’ Waller Jr., and Deputy Sheriff Ignacio ‘Dan’ Diaz, all of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

The trio was killed in November 2024 when a driver struck them as they were working on a disabled motorcycle vehicle on the side of the road. The incident shook the entire Palm Beach community like few events have before.

"They were really close friends and colleagues, and together they dedicated their lives to protecting the people of Palm Beach County and well beyond," President Trump said. "And they were beloved by everyone, and responded by all, really, really top of the line people."

President Trump attended the memorial service for the fallen officers.

"One simple question was asked: 'Why is there no medal, Medal of Valor, Medal of Sacrifice, that commemorates law enforcement officers, first responders who have fallen in line of duty?'" Eric Trump said during the presentation.

Florida Rep. Brian Mast introduced a bill in Congress to allow the president to bestow a similar medal to law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. President Trump also indicated that his administration is looking at potentially giving the medal to others who have died.

Tiffany & Co. made the Medal of Sacrifice itself, with Alexander Arnault, who helps lead the jeweler and whose family owns the company, saying, "Tiffany is a jeweler, as everyone knows it, but also a maker of American Heritage. We were making the Medal of Honor in the 19th and early 20th century, and it's only natural that we followed with this heritage."