Correctional officers honored for saving inmate's life
Updated: December 4, 2012
URBANA -- Three Champaign County correctional officers are being called heroes. They saved an inmate's life.
More than 200 inmates fill the cells at Champaign County Jail. In July, Officer Laynee Barbee found one of them wasn't responding.
"Officer Barbee, doing cell checks, security cell checks and noticed an inmate that had apparently attempted suicide," said Officer Josh Jones.
The inmate wasn't breathing and didn't have a pulse when Barbee found her. Barbee called Jones and Officer Steve Winters to help.
"I couldn't tell you what I was thinking back then," said Winters. "Just making sure we were doing everything right and making sure we were getting all the supplies that we need and trusting the people that we're working with."
Jones and Winters worked together to give the inmate CPR.
"It can be done by one person or two people," said Jones. "It's best when you have two people. It's most effective when you have two people."
It's a situation they've seen before but not very often. The sheriff said the group saved that inmate's life. And to the officers, each and every life is precious.
"Not everybody that comes to jail is a bad person so we treat everybody the same," said Jones. "It's a human life still."
They said it's all in a day's work and they're glad they were able to help.
"This isn't something we have to do daily, but it's just something we're expected to do so it's nice to be acknowledged," said Winters.
The correctional officers get yearly CPR and medical training. The inmate made a full recovery.
More than 200 inmates fill the cells at Champaign County Jail. In July, Officer Laynee Barbee found one of them wasn't responding.
"Officer Barbee, doing cell checks, security cell checks and noticed an inmate that had apparently attempted suicide," said Officer Josh Jones.
The inmate wasn't breathing and didn't have a pulse when Barbee found her. Barbee called Jones and Officer Steve Winters to help.
"I couldn't tell you what I was thinking back then," said Winters. "Just making sure we were doing everything right and making sure we were getting all the supplies that we need and trusting the people that we're working with."
Jones and Winters worked together to give the inmate CPR.
"It can be done by one person or two people," said Jones. "It's best when you have two people. It's most effective when you have two people."
It's a situation they've seen before but not very often. The sheriff said the group saved that inmate's life. And to the officers, each and every life is precious.
"Not everybody that comes to jail is a bad person so we treat everybody the same," said Jones. "It's a human life still."
They said it's all in a day's work and they're glad they were able to help.
"This isn't something we have to do daily, but it's just something we're expected to do so it's nice to be acknowledged," said Winters.
The correctional officers get yearly CPR and medical training. The inmate made a full recovery.
