Photo by Deb Gau Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen presented correctional officers Sean Kirk, Cale Sorensen, Isaac Pohlen and Ernest Sorensen (not pictured) with certificates of recognition Tuesday. Last month, the four officers acted quickly to save the life of a jail inmate having a mental health crisis.

MARSHALL — A group of correctional officers took fast action to save the life of an inmate at the Lyon County Jail last month, Sheriff Eric Wallen said.

During Tuesday’s Lyon County Board meeting, Wallen presented life-saving awards to Correctional Sgt. Sean Kirk, Correctional Sgt. Isaac Pohlen, and Correctional Officers Ernest Sorensen and Cale Sorensen.

“I’d like to just take a minute to recognize four of our correctional staff for an outstanding job that they did a couple weeks ago,” Wallen said.

On Aug. 18, an inmate at the jail had received some negative news about his court case, and attempted suicide, Wallen said. Wallen said in this situation, there was a window of only 10 to 15 seconds where a correctional officer could have seen the inmate concealing a bed sheet, and recognized the danger the inmate was in.

“Sgt. Sean Kirk here, was working the pod control station. Once he noticed it, he radioed for the other officers,” Wallen said. Pohlen, Ernest Sorensen and Cale Sorensen were able to enter the cell and prevent the inmate from attempting suicide.

“Thankfully we had jail staff nearby … we were able to have the staff on hand, to not be stretched so thin that we were able to have someone there within those seconds,” Wallen said. “I want to recognize them for saving a life that day and doing an outstanding job.”

In a statement on the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, Wallen said mental health continues to be a major concern in correctional settings like the county jail.

“I am very proud and honored that these officers are part of our team,” Wallen said in the statement.

“On behalf of the county and the county commissioners, great work done, and we appreciate your work,” Commissioner Gary Crowley said.

Each of the four officers received a certificate of recognition for their actions.