Corrections USA (CUSA) Will Honor Over Twenty Correction Officers from Around the Nation, Who Went Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, at CUSA’S Annual Awards Dinner Gala at Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel
LAS VEGAS, Nev., — Corrections USA (CUSA), a non-profit national advocacy organization, representing thousands of Correction Officers from across the nation, will honor twenty-one Correction Officers with the “CUSA Valor Award” at the annual CUSA Awards Gala to be held on February 15, 2023 at Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel. Among this year’s award recipients are four Correction Officers from Nevada, who helped save lives and protected the public from an inmate escape. Joining them are honorees representing the states of California, Florida, and New York.
“Every year, Corrections USA pays tribute to the country’s boldest Correction Officers, who displayed exemplary bravery both on and off duty,” said Corrections USA Chairman Jimmy Baiardi, who is also the head of the State Corrections Chapter of the Florida PBA. “The valor displayed by this year’s outstanding honorees serves as a shining example of the essential services performed by Correction Officers in cities and states all across the country. Far too often, Correction Officers don’t receive the full recognition they deserve for their roles in keeping our communities safe because they are out of sight, out of mind. Our annual awards gala helps shine a positive light on these men and women and recognizes their dedication and commitment to public safety.”
CUSA, which has approximately 85,000 members nationwide, was the first organization to give Valor Awards to professional public-sector Correction Officers and to recognize some of the brave men and women who patrol the toughest beats in law enforcement. CUSA has bestowed more than 600 Valor Awards over 20 years.
Listed Below Are the 2023 Corrections USA Valor Award and Image Award Recipients:
Valor Award Recipients Correctional Officers Kianna Mason, Felicia Brooks, and Erick Williams The Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center, Nevada
On September 29, 2022, Correctional Officers Kianna Mason, Felicia Brooks, and Erick Williams responded to a staff member in distress. MH-II Stan Jennings was entirely unresponsive while sitting at his desk and required immediate medical intervention and life saving measures. These three officers then sprang into action without hesitation or any direction and began lifesaving measures. They stayed with their patient and coworker and alternated performing CPR until Emergency Medical Services arrived to transport him to the hospital. Although Mr. Jennings ultimately passed away several months later, these officers refused to lose him on their watch and saved his life at the time by taking the initiative and doing the right thing when a fellow staff member was in need. For these reasons their Warden was proud to nominate them for the CUSA Valor Award.
Valor Award Recipient Correctional Officer Jonnathan Rodriguez, Three Lakes Valley Conservation Camp, Nevada
On December 15, 2022, Correctional Officer Rodriguez was notified by phone that an inmate jumped over the fence between unit 2 and unit 3 building. While supervisory staff-initiated procedures by recalling the recreation yard, Correctional Officer Rodriguez immediately got in a state vehicle and started heading the last known direction of the inmate. While driving down on Old Creek Road he noticed a male wearing a state long blue pants and a white tee shirt walking barefoot on perimeter road between MIS Building and Southern Desert Correctional Center warehouse building. While driving towards him to identify him, officer Rodriguez exited his vehicle and ran towards the inmate’s direction and gave him verbal commands to stop. Officer Rodriguez apprehended the inmate and successfully placed him on the floor. Shortly afterwards, multiple officers started to arrive at the scene and placed the inmate in restraints. The inmate was then transported to a higher security institution and charged with an Escape. Officer Rodriguez went above and beyond the call of duty to apprehend the escapee and in order to protect the surrounding community.
Valor Award Recipients Correctional Lieutenant Heriberto Mora, Correctional Sergeant John Bradley, and Correctional Professional of the Year Nurse Mayra Mora Ironwood State Prison, California Department of Corrections
Lt. Heriberto Mora and his wife, Nurse Mayra Mora, encountered a car crash on their way to work. Trained emergency first responders, the Moras pulled their vehicle over to the shoulder and ran across the freeway to the mangled truck that had rolled over into a ditch.
The driver was bleeding profusely from the head and Nurse Mora treated the wound using her husband’s sweater. She then assisted a woman who had been ejected from the vehicle, keeping her stationary to avoid aggravating internal or neck injuries. A young girl was outside the truck. Not knowing if she had been ejected or taken out, Lt. Mora attended to her and calmed her down.
Sgt. Bradley, also on his way to work, stopped to lend aid to the crash victims. Lt. Mora searched the vehicle and saw an infant still in a car seat. With Sgt. Bradley’s assistance, the two broke open the rear passenger window, undid the car seat’s harness, and got the baby out safely. They stayed with the victims until firefighters and paramedics arrived. The two children were airlifted to a nearby hospital with moderate injuries. All survived because of the quick action taken. Several other prison employees also stopped to help with bottles of water and blankets for the victims.
Valor Award Recipient Correctional Officer Stephen Leach, California Health Care Facility California Department of Corrections
Off-duty Correctional Officer Stephen Leach was heading home from California Health Care Facility when he witnessed two cars crash at an intersection. One of the cars careened through a brick wall and into the corner of a home. The officer immediately pulled over, parked his car and rushed to the scene. As small flames licked up the sides of the vehicle, smoke billowed from the crushed front end. That’s when Officer Leach heard cries of help coming from inside. The hood of the car had been pushed back into the cab, but he was able to see four people inside, all of them teenagers.
Others began to stop as well, but they pulled out their cell phones to record the scene. But no one else offered help.
Pulling the driver to safety, he instructed him to sit on a nearby curb. Back at the vehicle, he found a young woman in the backseat, driver’s side. She had a bloodied face and a broken leg, so he gently placed her on the grass. The third victim, also in the backseat, was coherent but appeared to show signs of a concussion. He assisted her to the curb, then returned to the vehicle. The fourth victim was climbing out of the vehicle so helped her get a safe distance from the car.
Once everyone was in a safe location, he checked back in with the second victim. Keeping her calm, he stayed by her side until Stockton emergency personnel arrived and placed her on a stretcher.
A police officer said when he and his partner arrived, they could see smoke and fire coming from the vehicle
“Officer Leach had already finished extracting the four victims and had one of them in the recovery position, keeping them calm,” the police officer said.
Officer Leach is no stranger to helping others in times of crisis. In June 2019, he helped save a couple after their vehicle crashed, earning him the Silver Star.
He once again bravely and selflessly put himself in harm’s way to save the lives of four strangers.
Valor Award Recipients Correction Officer Monet Oglesbee and Correction Officer Chelsea Winston Westchester County Jail, New York
On November 3, 2022, during the course of a performing a security tour on the 3NW Housing Unit, Officer Oglesbee observed an inmate in the act of a suicide attempt and responded immediately by activating a Code Blue and simultaneously summoning assistance from Officer Chelsea Winston. Joined by Officer Chelsea Winston, Officer Oglesbee entered the cell of the distressed inmate and untied a sheet and lowered the inmate to the floor and removed the sheet from around his neck. After removing the sheet from the inmate’s neck, the inmate began gasping for air. With the support of responding medical personnel and Officer Winston, the inmate was stabilized and transported via ambulance to a local hospital. Thanks to Officer Oglesbee’s quick response this inmate’s life was undoubtedly saved.
Valor Award Recipient Correction Officer Antoine Adkins Westchester County Jail, New York
After the Westchester COBA Memorial Motorcycle ride, Virgil Smith, a Westchester Correction Officer, began choking at the post ride lunch. The office was hunched over and was obviously in great distress. Immediately, Correction Officer Antoine Adkins began the Heimlich maneuver on Officer Smith which was extremely difficult because Officer Smith was wearing a motorcycle protective vest. After a few attempts, Officer Smith was able to spit out the dislodged food and began breathing normally. Thanks to Correction Officer Adkins quick actions, he was able to prevent a potential tragedy.
Valor Award Recipients Correction Officer Felicia Malcom, and Correction Officer Kevin Ocampo, Anna M. Kross Center, NYC Department of Correction
On October 31, 2022, at housing unit QU 2 (C) Correction Officer Jean Louis was being attacked by an inmate. Correction Officer Felicia Malcolm, assigned to the “A” Post, observed the physical altercation taking place between Correction Officer Louis and the inmate. Officer Malcolm immediately ran into the housing area and realized the inmate was stabbing Correction Officer Louis in the back of his neck. She utilized her chemical agent while yelling and giving several verbal commands for the inmate to stop his assault. Correction Officer Kevin Ocampo also ran into the housing unit to assist Officer Malcom. Officers Malcom and Ocampo utilized several bursts from their chemical agents and were able to finally subdue the inmate and safely escort Correction Officer Louis out of the unit and potentially saved his life.
Valor Award Recipients Correction Officer Fabio Nunez and Correction Officer Manuel Gonzalez, Transportation Division Vernon C. Bain Center, NYC Department of Correction
On July 9, 2022, in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, Correction Officers Fabio Nunez and Manuel Gonzalez were transporting an inmate from the Vernon C. Bain Center to his medical appointment on Rikers Island. While en route to Rikers, a group of pedestrians waved at their van from the street alerting them about a theft in progress. A female butcher shop owner was struggling with a perpetrator who had just stolen three cases of beer from her bodega and was about to drive off with the woman whose body was half way through the passenger seat window of his vehicle. Upon seeing what was unfolding, Correction Officer Nunez raced to the driver’s side window of the vehicle and placed the man in handcuffs while his partner, Correction Officer Gonzalez, darted to the passenger’s side of the vehicle and put the vehicle in park and made sure the woman was safe.
The Correction officers called police who arrested the perp immediately. In response to this heroic effort, COBA President Benny Boscio praised these two officers and said, “Correction Officers are essential to maintaining public safety throughout New York City and the courageous actions of Correction Officer Fabio Nunez and Manuel Gonzalez are perfect examples of that.”
Valor Award Recipients Investigator Lt. Shawn Springsteen, Investigator Christine Fanning, Riverhead Correctional Facility, Suffolk County, New York
Investigator Lt. Shawn Springsteen has developed, and will spearhead, the first of its kind, Corrections based multi-agency joint operation center called the Corrections Intelligence Center (CIC). The CIC will develop intelligence on threat groups, street gangs, and other criminal enterprises and trends which will aid in the investigation and disruption of these groups.
The CIC will establish a comprehensive network of Corrections agencies (locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally) to build relationships for improving information sharing. Effective information sharing enables better collection, better analysis, and better support to users of intelligence, and intelligence integration depends on an Intelligence community that understands its responsibility to share and safeguard information. Collected information will be stored as a resource and intelligence will be disseminated via multiple platforms to our CIC partners. Each partner agency will assign a Corrections Intelligence Officer to the CIC and he/she will act as a liaison to the CIC, building relationships and sharing information in real time.
The goal is the result of a collaborative effort across the Intelligence community’s agencies to provide effective solutions and analysis to preemptively act to prevent crime and violence inside the Correctional facilities.
Investigator Christine Fanning has a proven expertise and proficiency in human trafficking investigation management, intelligence gathering, digital evidence collection, interview and interrogation, and developing reports and testimony that validate her findings.
Investigator Fanning has accelerated and advanced her career beyond typical performance expectations by providing exceptional leadership and mentorship as a member of the Sheriff’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative (SATI) unit. SATI is the first of its kind in the country operating from inside a correctional facility. The goal of SATI is to ensure that all victims of human trafficking who pass through the Suffolk County correctional facility are identified and have access to the services they need to recover.
The SATI unit works in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies by developing and forwarding intelligence gathered from the correctional setting. In addition, Investigator Fanning works closely with local organizations and advocacy groups who provide a range of resources (medical attention, safe housing, food, etc.) for trafficking survivors to support their growth and healing.
Investigator Fanning has built relationships with law enforcement agencies and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in an effort to enable information sharing in an intelligence field that is typically secretive and territorial. Over time Investigator Fanning has been able to build and sustain the trust required to share information and collectively reduce risk. Agencies are now lining up to form a symbiotic relationship with the SATI unit. The SATI unit has been able to assist agencies with cases involving human trafficking, narcotics, domestic violence, assault and murder.
Under Investigator Fanning’s role and leadership, the SATI unit has:
• Conducted 4,224 incarcerated individual interviews;
• Identified 282 human trafficking victims and 170 perpetrators;
• Provided over 180 intelligence briefs and over 630 referrals to law enforcement agencies;
• Made 613 victim service referrals.
Through leadership and dedication, Investigator Fanning, along with the SATI unit, has transformed the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Intelligence Bureau and has created a blueprint that will change Corrections Intelligence forever.
Valor Award Recipient Corporal Eric Peters, Main Detention Center, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Palm Beach Florida
On May 1, 2022, an unknown deputy screamed on the radio for help. At the time, it was not clear who or where it was. Corporal Eric Peters, who was working voluntary overtime, was present on South 6th Floor at the time, escorting an inmate to another unit. Corporal Peters recognized Deputy Carrasquillo-Bonilla’s voice through the transmission, immediately secured the inmate he was transporting and exited the unit to go check on Deputy Carrasquillo-Bonilla, who was assigned to South 6C. Deputy Carrasquillo-Bonilla again screamed on the radio but this time was able to advise of his location.
Corporal Peters entered the vestibule of South 6C and observed a shirtless inmate, in the lower tier bathroom, on the floor, with Deputy Carrasquillo-Bonilla. Corporal Peters immediately got on the radio and called for immediate assistance. Corporal Peters observed the inmate in a kneeling position, leaning on the back of the Deputy Carrasquillo-Bonilla, who was laying face down on the floor and pinned against the wall in a headlock.
As Corporal Peters entered the unit, he gave the inmate several loud verbal commands to let go of the Deputy but to no avail. The inmate then used his bicep and forearm and began choking Deputy Charrasquillo-Bonilla’s neck, depriving him of air. While maintaining this position from the rear of Deputy Charrasquillo-Bonilla the inmate stood up and screamed, “I’m going to die and he’s coming with me.”
Corporal Peters delivered a closed fist to the left side of the inmate’s face and ordered him to release his hold of the Deputy. A second right fist strike was delivered by Corporal Peters to the left side of the inmate’s face resulting in the inmate loosening his grip on the deputy. Finally, Corporal Peters struck the inmate a third time resulting in the inmate releasing the deputy. Corporal Peters then apprehended the inmate, secured him on the floor and placed him in handcuffs. Due to Corporal Peters innate ability to recognize Deputy Carrasquillo-Bonilla’s voice, his ability to react quickly by securing the inmate he was transporting and responding to the incident, he was able to prevent the inmate from trying to kill the Deputy. For these reasons, Corrections USA is proud to present Corporal Peters with the Valor Award.
Image Awards Recipients Sergeant Tory Terry, Lt. Jaleesa Caple, Lake Correctional Institute, Florida Department of Corrections Florida
Hurricane Ian affected a lot of correctional staff and the Community in Central Florida. Lt. Jaleesa Caple wanted to do something about it. Along with Sargent Tory Terry, Lt. Caple started by getting a few officers together, creating cleaning supply buckets for those who needed it. Sgt Terry didn’t want to stop there and wanted to do it bigger. So, he reached out to a couple of his contacts in Miami and had food and water sent up to Orlando to help both Correctional Staff and the Community who needed it. Sgt Terry and Lt. Caple also reached out to the local police departments to see how they could be of even more help to the community. Mascotte Police Department welcomed them with open arms. They decorated a truck for a “trunk or treat” for kids in the community, a breakfast with Santa, and helped build over 300 bikes to give back to the community along with a non-profit organization called “Charity Across South Lake.” They came up with the name of “Beyond The Gate” in conjunction with the FCCD Chapter 27, because they wanted the community to know that Correctional Officers have hearts and are people too. They are not stopping here though. They have many more community service endeavors in store for 2023.