Federal Corner
CBP and FLETC Present Lifesaving Award to ICE Special Agents
By Sharon Reichert, FLETC, Public Affairs Specialist
Nov 8, 2007 - 11:48:49 AM

US Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) recently honored ICE Special Agents Thomas Gordon and Anthony Rios for saving the life of a CBP student. During a joint ceremony, CBP Commissioner Ralph Basham and FLETC Director Connie Patrick presented the FLETC Lifesaving Award to Gordon and Rios. Special recognition and acknowledgment was also given to first responders from the FLETC and CBP staff, as well as to the support staff from the CBP Field Operations Academy and FLETC who helped with family notifications and coordination.

Gordon and Rios were recognized for responding quickly when CBP Officer Jimmy Elam collapsed on Aug. 22 soon after he began his run on the outdoor track at the FLETC facility in Glynco, Ga. A student in an ICE class participating in physical conditioning nearby witnessed Elam’s collapse and immediately informed his instructor, Special Agent Gordon. Gordon and other members of his class responded and found Elam unconscious and not breathing; Elam apparently had suffered a cardiac arrest. Rios (an Emergency Medical Technician) and Gordon conducted CPR on Elam until FLETC Health Unit personnel arrived and he was transferred to the hospital. Elam is expected to make a full recovery.

“There is little doubt that Officer Elam’s life was saved by the quick response and knowledgeable actions of Special Agents Gordon and Rios, as well as all the other personnel who did their jobs so well that day,” said Art Morgan, Director, CBP Field Operations Academy. FLETC Director Patrick added, “It is an honor for FLETC to present this award to officers and agents from sister components within DHS. Training together creates a culture that promotes a common identity, innovation, mutual respect, accountability, and teamwork to achieve efficiencies, effectiveness, and operational synergies. As we see from this incident, it also saves lives.”

Reprinted with permission of DHS Today.