Right Place, Right Time, Right Reaction: CCA Facilities Come Together
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SORT members respond on the scene of the accident
They’re highly motivated and skilled specialists dealing with emergency situations.
Who are these people? They’re CCA’s Special Operations Response Team (SORT) members. Think SWAT without deadly munitions. These individuals represent a special class of CCA security employees – one that goes over and beyond the call of daily duty to take on additional training to face higher-stakes situations and respond expertly.
“A SORT member is a special individual,” says Thomas Peterson, CCA director, Security. “This person works under extreme pressure and must react spontaneously. These groups prepare for any type of emergency, and they’re well trained.”
A recent CCA acquisition is Lake Erie Correctional Institution in Conneaut, Ohio. Recently, three SORT teams journeyed to Lake Erie to provide security during the transition, as CCA assumed operations on January 1, 2012. Those squads were from Northeast Ohio Correctional Facility in Youngstown, Ohio, Graceville Correctional Facility in Graceville, Fla., and Marion County Jail II in Indianapolis, Ind.
On January 4, the teams concluded a full day’s work and departed Lake Erie in a three-truck convoy, headed to their hotel for some well-deserved rest. As the group ventured onto Interstate 90 East, the pavement was clean, but there was snow on the ground, and it was bitterly cold.
The sun was lowering in the sky behind them. There was a Toyota Corolla a short distance in front of the SORT team occupied by a teenage couple. Suddenly, assistant commander James Carnes of Northeast Ohio Correctional Center noticed a tanker truck traveling west attempt to pass a vehicle. Then something went horribly wrong.
“The tanker veered and bulldozed across the median,” says Carnes. “All you could see was an explosion of snow and mud going everywhere.”
The truck struck the Corolla, continued across the eastbound lanes, barreled over a guardrail, ran up an embankment and came to rest 300 yards away in a grove of trees. Miraculously, no one was injured badly, but the scene was intense and the situation chaotic. The young couple, truck driver and interstate motorists had angels on their shoulders: the CCA SORT teams.
Out of their trucks, they bounded and sprung into action. A 911 call was made, and medical aid was provided to the truck driver, who appeared to have suffered a broken nose. The teenagers, shaken badly, were wrapped in blankets and placed in one of the warm trucks. Graceville’s Erica Watford held and comforted the young girl.
“You respond expeditiously, but first you assess the situation and make methodical decisions,” says SORT commander Dean Rowlett of the Marion County facility. “It’s all about scene safety.”
SORT members assumed traffic control. Carnes is also a volunteer firefighter, and his truck had lights and sirens. He blocked the interstate with his vehicle and initiated the accessories. Other members began cleaning up debris.
Shortly, local authorities arrived on the scene. The SORT members provided briefing and continued to assist with traffic and other duties.
Regional SORT commander Michael Dean says, “I couldn’t be prouder of what was accomplished that evening. Teamwork and the highest professionalism and respect were demonstrated. It was a reflection of what CCA is all about.”
CCA SORT Heroes
Northeast Ohio Correctional Center
James Carnes, Jamison Conley, Chad Dibell, David Kusky, Sean Kusky, Matthew Mastell, David Rapone
Graceville Correctional Facility
Demetris Bellamy, Jonathon Deel, Chris Scribner, Erica Watford
Brandon Bay, Richard Pfifer, Dustin Rowlett, Sergio Rodriguez
January 12, 2012
Sound Out
Lynn Carpenter at FSC:
What a great first impression our team made on the community surrounding Lake Erie. Great job.
Maria Stebbins at Saguaro Correctional Centr:
Great job all of you! Good training and teamwork in action. So proud of you.