Two staff members at Marquette Branch Prison were recently presented the Department’s Lifesaving Award and the Meritorious Service Award.

RUO Ray Champion received the Department’s Lifesaving Award for his actions taken while observing the evening meal lines. He observed a prisoner choking and unable to breathe.

RUO Champion administered the Heimlich maneuver until the obstruction was dislodged, and the prisoner began to breathe. Medical staff indicated that the prisoner would soon have gone into respiratory distress, followed by cardiac failure, had it not been for the quick actions of RUO Champion.

Sgt. John Mayotte received the Department’s Meritorious Service award for his involvement with the department’s mobilization team. Sgt. Mayotte updated the mobilization critique sheets and audit elements, and developed a tracking instrument for emergency preparedness progress. These updates will help ensure that all facilities are prepared in the event of a real emergency.

Michigan Department of Corrections FYI 033006