On July 31, 2017 at approximately 3:15PM, Lake County Corrections Officers George Gotsis and John Venetsanakos saved the life of an inmate attempting suicide.

Officers Gotsis and Venetsanakos were conducting rounds in the Administrative Segregation Unit (Maximum Security) of the Lake County Jail, when they discovered a 39 year-old inmate in his jail cell attempting suicide by hanging, using a tee-shirt.  Officers Gotsis and Venetsanakos immediately entered the inmate’s jail cell and used a cutting tool to remove the shirt from the inmate’s neck.

After the shirt was removed, the inmate began breathing and regained consciousness.  Lake County Jail medical personnel immediately responded and maintained initial care of the inmate.  He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and released back into the custody of correctional staff.  A suicide prevention protocol was initiated for the inmate upon his return.

Sheriff Mark Curran said, “This is the second time in less than a month where our corrections officers prevented a suicide.  This inmate was potentially moments away from losing his life, but Officers Gotsis and Venetsanakos acted heroically and stopped a suicide.  I am very proud of their work and the daily dedication of our correctional staff.”