A Lake County jail corrections officer was recently awarded as Correctional Officer of the Year for successfully saving the lives of two inmates who attempted suicide in 2020.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said that Corrections Officer Elvis Fejzic was recently awarded the 2020 Correctional Officer of the Year Award by the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg nominated Fejzic for the award after he successfully stopped two inmate suicide attempts.
Fejzic observed an inmate attempting to choke himself with a bedsheet in August and immediately took action, the sheriff’s office said.
Fejzic entered the inmate’s cell and unwrapped the sheet from around the inmate’s neck. A month later, Fejzic found an inmate attempting suicide with a t-shirt in his jail cell.
Fejzic and his partner, Corrections Officer Matthew Outinen, entered the inmate’s cell, cut the shirt off of the inmate’s neck, and administered first-aid.
The sheriff’s office said that Fejzic was also recognized for his thoroughness in preventing numerous items of contraband from entering the inside of the jail.
“I am very proud of Corrections Officer Elvis Fejzic and excited he received such a prestigious award from the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. The dedication and service-oriented mindset of our corrections officers often go unseen by the community, as their heroic actions occur behind closed doors,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
“Each and every day, our corrections officers work diligently to make a positive impact on those incarcerated and continually participate in efforts to reduce recidivism,” Idleburg added.