Custody Deputies Honored for Saving Inmate's Life

Santa Barbara- January 26th, 2010

Four Custody Deputies with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department were honored this afternoon for their role in saving the life of an inmate who attempted to commit suicide while in the County Jail.

The Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services Agency and the Sheriff’s Department awarded all four Custody Deputies with the EMS Save Award today during a ceremony in the jail attended by nearly 40 family and colleagues of the honorees.

At approximately 10:00pm on October 23, 2009 Custody Deputy Steve Stanbrough found an inmate hanging from the bars in a holding cell. The inmate had used a shirt to create a noose which he hung from the bars about six and a half feet above the floor.

Deputy Stanbrough and Custody Deputy Douglas Todaro were able to hold the inmate up while Custody Deputies Eric Alexander and Stephen Dwyer removed the ligature from the inmate’s neck.

After determining the inmate had no pulse, Stanbrough and Todaro immediately began CPR. After about ten chest compressions color began to return to the inmate’s face. About a minute later, jail medical staff arrived and began administering first aid while Stanbrough continued the chest compressions. After about the fifth compression, the inmate coughed loudly and began breathing on his own. The inmate was transported to the hospital where he was treated before being released four days later alert and oriented.

Quick action by the Custody Deputies and their skills exhibited during the incident allowed the inmate to survive the suicide attempt. For their actions, the Santa Barbara County EMS Agency and the Sheriff’s Department awarded all four Custody Deputies with the EMS Save Award.

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