LA/OC IAHSS Recognizes Hospital Security Officers for Saving Lives, Outstanding Performances

Award recipient Richard Espinoza of St. Jude Medical Center.

During a morning shift in June 2019, Officer Espinoza was posted as the Emergency Room Officer. A mentally ill patient had come into the ER via ambulance shaking violently (EMTs stated they were called for a person having seizures) and was generally unresponsive to staff’s commands.

The patient was placed in a normal medical room and not into the psychiatric patient holding area. A patient care technician was placed as a sitter due to the patient being suicidal the day prior but then released after seeing a psychiatric evaluator.

The patient became conscious and began verbally berating the PCT that was tasked to watch him. A security Assist was called to the room and Officer Espinoza was the first to respond. As soon as Officer Espinoza (not even enough time to put gloves on) arrived, the patient attacked him. Officer Espinoza immediately reverted back to his training and held the patient down with the assistance of several other staff members for approximately 20 minutes on the ground until the patient could be placed safely onto a gurney and into restraints.

Officer Espinoza did not hesitate in his duty as someone that is there to protect staff, visitors, and other patients at St. Jude Medical Center and sacrificed his own safety to protect those around him. Officer Espinoza’s selfless act to protect those around him caused an injury, which he was hesitant to report, but eventually did because it prevented him from walking properly.