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Washington County honors two corrections officers credited with saving inmate's life
Summary
At a March meeting, the Washington County public safety committee acknowledged two corrections officers for intervening in an Aug. 11, 2024 suicide attempt in the county jail; the committee praised staff and recognized the life-saving response.
Washington County’s public safety committee on March (date not specified) acknowledged two corrections officers for life-saving actions after an inmate attempted to take his own life on Aug. 11, 2024.
The committee heard that at approximately 7:25 p.m. on Aug. 11, 2024, a detainee was found hanging from a bed sheet tied to a cell door frame. Two corrections officers, identified in the presentation as Matthias and Thomas, responded and held the roughly 220-pound subject until further assistance arrived. Westwood Fire and Rescue then took over care of the detainee.
A sheriff’s office representative summarized the incident and praised the officers’ response. “Whereas due to the actions of all of the tragic tragic event prevented and a life was saved,” the representative said, reading the acknowledgement into the record.
The presenter told the committee the door had been difficult to open and that staff worked to cut the bedding and lower the subject, who was not breathing when they encountered him. The report noted one of the two officers acknowledged at the meeting was absent because of a previously scheduled out-of-state family vacation.
Committee members offered brief thanks and praise for the corrections staff. The committee’s remarks placed the incident in the context of jail operations’ high liability for county government and emphasized support for detention staff.
The committee did not take formal action beyond the public acknowledgement.
