(1) A Three Stars of Tennessee Award shall be awarded to: A peace officer who suffers a career-ending injury in the line of duty;
(2) The surviving next of kin of a peace officer who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty;
(3) A federal law enforcement officer or special agent who suffers a career-ending injury in the line of duty assisting a state or local law enforcement agency; or
(4) The surviving next of kin of a federal law enforcement officer or special agent who sustains a fatal injury while assisting a state or local law enforcement agency in this state.
(5) Any person who has personal knowledge of a peace officer who was killed or suffered a career-ending injury in the line of duty, or a federal law enforcement officer or special agent who was killed or suffered a career-ending injury assisting a state or local law enforcement agency in this state, may submit that information in writing to the council.
(6) As used in this section, “peace officer” means an officer, employee or agent of government who has a duty imposed by law to maintain public order; make arrests for offenses, whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to specific offenses including laws and regulations pertaining to the forests of this state; and to investigate the commission or suspected commission of offenses.