This year’s selection for Officer of the Year at Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) was Correctional Counselor James “Bobby” Wilson III. He was one of four recipients of the 2024 award presented by the Angels-Murphys Rotary Club.
Wilson, who is currently assigned to Facility B, started his CDCR career at the Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center in February 2018. After graduating the Basic Correctional Officer Academy, he reported to SCC in Jamestown.
“He is a hardworking employee and is good at his classification duties. When the Rotary reached out to us for a nomination this year, we wanted to select someone who not only did their job well, which is expected, but rather someone who applies what they have learned from the job in their local community,” according to SCC.
He was honored for going above the call while not in uniform June 30, 2024.
While sitting with her family during an outdoor church service, Cassandra Wilson, James’ wife, noticed their pastor’s 90-year-old father slumped down where he was sitting. Cassandra noticed another church member unsuccessfully trying to wake up the elderly man. She then notified her husband of what she saw, so he walked over to evaluate the situation.
An off-duty neonatal intensive care unit nurse also helped, checking the man for a pulse, but she was unable to find one. Counselor Wilson began chest compressions.
Another church member grabbed a pulse oximeter from her car, placed it on the man’s finger and confirmed there was no pulse.
Wilson continued administering chest compressions and after a few minutes, they finally detected a pulse.
“Wilson stayed with (the elderly man), talking with him and making sure he stayed coherent until the paramedics arrived. When the paramedics arrived, he updated them on all that had occurred, and they transported (the man) to the hospital. The paramedics said without Wilson’s intervention, they wouldn’t have been there in time,” according to an incident report.
The pastor said the hospital told him Counselor Wilson saved his father’s life. The nurse at the scene said she was grateful Wilson was there to provide life saving measures.
Story by Lt. Ruben S. Jauregui
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