On December 3, 2018, Merced County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Jason Goins and Captain Corey Gibson awarded Correctional Officer Mario Vergara with a lifesaving medal based on actions taken by Officer Vergara on August 29, 2018, at the John Latorraca Correctional Center.

On that date, Officer Vergara quickly realized that a probation officer in the employee break room was choking and could not breathe. Officer Vergara took immediate action and performed several abdominal thrusts clearing the obstruction thus saving the probation officer’s life.

This type of action goes above and beyond the typical duties of a Correctional Office and had Officer Vergara not take such swift action the situation would have undoubtedly ended in a tragedy.

In addition, Chief Probation Officer Jeff Kettering of the Merced County Probation Department recognized Officer Vergara’s actions by presenting him with a Probation Department challenge coin.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Officer Vergara for his undying dedication to his profession, devotion to duty, and his personal initiative in this situation. All information\photos provided by the Merced Sheriff Department.