I'm only familiar with Toronto. Toronto police officers, firefighters and paramedics wear federal, provincial and city medals with their departmental dress uniform.
Our department had the Never saved a life medal. My Daddy is a Chief medal. I know someone at Headquarters medal. I cook a good pot of Ragu medal. Eight to Four medal. ( HQ staff only. ) My face was in the newspaper medal. I believe our own press medal. etc.
^ Just kidding! ^
Seriously though, in a city with thousands of police officers, firefighters and paramedics, all you really cared about at a scene was how long they had been on the job.
You could tell that with a quick glance to their lower left sleeve and counting the number of Years of Service insignia.
One for every five years of completed service with the city.
Unlike Toronto, the City of New York awards
many medals to their police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
Not aware of any complaints from the US military.
NYPD Medal Day
https://www.google.com/search?q=nypd+medal+day&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA:IE-Address&rlz=1I7GGHP_en-GBCA592&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjahKD2h43bAhVFlVkKHfUpCbYQ_AUICygC&biw=1280&bih=603
FDNY ( firefighter and paramedic ) Medal Day
https://www.google.com/search?rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-CA%3AIE-Address&rlz=1I7GGHP_en-GBCA592&biw=1280&bih=603&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=yJ_9WvOTK8Sb5wKxtLNI&q=fdny+medal+day&oq=fdny+medal+day&gs_l=img.12..0j0i24k1l9.89717.92992.0.95000.8.8.0.0.0.0.271.1445.1j4j3.8.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.4.898...0i8i30k1j0i8i10i30k1j0i8i7i30k1.0.5lXsYpJSP4E
Remius said:
Note the guy at the bottom who seems to have his mounted for easy removal in case he gets called on it... ;D
My
guess is it had just been pinned on him.