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

Award recipient Erik Tollette of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital.

Tollette is recognized for his leadership and fostering trust with his team. One example of that trust is an incident that Erik and a peer responded to when a behavioral health patient attempted to elope from the emergency department patient area. 

During the interaction with the patient, Erik understood that verbal directives were not being followed by the patient and attempted to reposition himself during the interaction. The patient took a fighting stance against both Erik and his partner officer and immediately struck Erik’s partner with a closed fist multiple times. The patient attempted to strike Erik as well, but Erik’s quick response to the assault put him in a position of advantage and surprised the assaultive patient. 

Erik was able to control grab the patient and assist him to the ground. In doing so, Erik controlled the patient with various holds and positioning until additional resources were able to respond.  Following the safe transfer of the patient into restraints, Erik then focused his attention on getting his injured partner medical treatment and care. 

Erik’s professional and appropriate response to the incident put him in a position to immediately mitigate further assaultive behaviors from this patient and also expedited the medical care that his partner officer required.