Suffolk County Correction Officer Robert Call was awarded the Medal of Honor during the 6th annual Correction Officer of the Year awards May 23, and fellow Officer William Peterson was awarded a Meritorious Award.

The officers joined Sheriff Andrea Cabral, Governor Mitt Romney, Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and Secretary of Public Safety Edward A. Flynn at the awards ceremony in the Great Hall of the State House.

“I would like to congratulate Officer Call and Officer Peterson. They acted with courage and heroism in difficult situations,” Sheriff Cabral said. “This is a great way to honor an underappreciated profession. Every day, the correction officers in our department make a true commitment to public safety. They not only ensure the safety of offenders in our custody, but they protect our communities overall.”

Officer Robert Call was awarded the Medal of Honor for his life-saving efforts when last summer he risked his own life to save the life of a suicidal woman attempting to leap off the Washington Street Bridge onto the Mass Turrnpike in Boston. Officer Call was off-duty at the time. He is the first Suffolk County Officer to receive this award.

Officer Call has been a correction officer with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department for 12 years.

Officer William Peterson was awarded the Meritorious Award for his quick action in saving the life of a baby who had stopped breathing. While Officer Peterson was in a department store in Concord, NH, last December, he noticed an 18-month-old infant turning blue and unresponsive. Officer Peterson performed CPR on the baby until EMTs arrived at the scene. His action saved the baby’s life.

Officer Peterson has been a correction officer with the Department for nearly two years.

The two joined other correction officers from around the state who also received awards for acts of heroism and bravery. Award winners were determined by an individual’s response to an incident that involved personal risk or harm to other individuals where the officer displayed ability and professionalism during difficult circumstances.

The Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard posted the colors while Bag Piper Sgt. Chris Fay performed at the ceremonies.

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