Dear COBA Members/Retirees;

Every year, Corrections USA pays tribute to the country's boldest Correction Officers, who displayed exemplary bravery both on and off duty," said Corrections USA Chairman James Baiardi, head of the State Corrections Chapter of the Florida PBA at this year's awards ceremony held in Las Vegas Nevada last week.

“The valor displayed by this year's twenty-two outstanding honorees serves as a shining example of the essential services performed by Correction Officers in cities and states all across the country. They will never receive the full recognition they deserve for their part in keeping our communities safe, so our annual awards gala is a particularly meaningful recognition of their dedication and commitment to public safety.”

Correctional Officer Patrick Graba,

Nassau County Correctional Center, NY, Medal of Valor Winner:

In September 2019, Atlantic Steamer Fire Company No 1, an all-volunteer fire department, was activated for mutual aid to the Bayville Fire Department for a water rescue. It was reported that two jet skiers were trapped due to the receding tide. It was quickly determined that the utilization of boats was not an option due to low tide. Correctional Officer Patrick Graba who is also a Volunteer Firefighter, devised and implemented a plan to employ a long-haul ice water rescue sled tethered to several hundred feet of rescue line. Officer Graba in his capacity as a volunteer firefighter, face down on the sled, propelled himself with his hands, made his way through the thick mud to the stranded jet skiers. Officer Graba saw the jet skiers had left the jet skis and now were neck deep in the mud of the marsh. Racing against the rising tide and realizing the more the stranded jet skiers moved, they were getting deeper and deeper in the mud. Officer Graba requested immediate assistance from the NYPD Aviation Unit. Officer Graba worked with the NYPD rescue diving team configuring the rescue sled as a support platform while a winch system was used to extract both jet skiers from the mud. Both jet skiers were transported to a local hospital by the aviation unit. Due to the many trips and fuel shortage of the aviation unit, Officer Graba had to remain at the scene until the tide returned enough to allow the Bayville Fire Department Boating Unit to reach him.

Correctional Officer and Volunteer Firefighter Graba’s quick thinking and selfless bravery demonstrated exceptional valor in preventing the deaths of two people.

COBA Congratulations Correction Officer Pat Graba on this well deserved recognition.

Brian Sullivan, COBA President