Court Officers Commended by Chief Justices
and Survivor of Courthouse Cardiac Arrest

          Court Officers who sprang into action to revive Leonard Shand, a Boston Police Officer who collapsed at the Brooke Courthouse on May 22nd, were thanked by him and commended by Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert Mulligan and Chief Justice of the Probate & Family Court Sean Dunphy on Friday, June 29, 2007.

          In Probate & Family Courtroom Four, Court Officers Stephen LaColla, Michael O'Toole, and Christopher Roberson, embraced Mr. Shand who had stopped breathing and suffered cardiac arrest in that same courtroom one month earlier. When his seizure occurred, the Court Officers quickly identified the emergency, administered CPR, applied an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), analyzed Mr. Shand's heart rhythm and administered a shock that restored his pulse and ability to breathe on his own. Boston Emergency Medical Services then transported him to the hospital where he later underwent heart bypass surgery. Court Officer Martin Connolly, who was not on duty when Mr. Shand returned to the courtroom last week, also participated in the life-saving effort

          "Through their alertness and preparedness these court officers truly restored life to Mr. Shand," said Chief Justice Mulligan who along with Chief Justice Dunphy presented commendations to the officers. "Their actions underscore the effectiveness of our court officer force which operates without fanfare every day to intelligently and alertly assure safety and security for those who visit and work at our courthouses," he said. "We are pleased to commend the exemplary emergency response of these officers who demonstrated the extent to which their training prepares them for any situation that can arise in the courtroom."

         Chief Justice Mulligan also commended the collaborative effort across Trial Court Departments to deliver training on the use of AEDs. In February, 137 employees at the Brooke Courthouse, including court officers assigned to the Probate & Family Court, volunteered for training in the use of CPR and the AED, in a program conducted by the Boston Municipal Court in conjunction with the Trial Court's Security Department. Boston Municipal Court Administrative Attorney Michael O'Loughlin and Trial Court Director of Security Thomas Connolly who jointly coordinated the training effort also participated in the recognition event.

From left: Chief Justice of the Probate & Family Court Sean Dunphy, Boston Municipal Court Administrative Attorney Michael O'Loughlin, Court Officer Stephen LaColla, Court Officer Michael O'Toole, Leonard Shand, Court Officer Christopher Roberson, and Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert Mulligan in Probate & Family Courtroom Four where Mr. Shand suffered cardiac arrest in May.

From left: Probate & Family Court Officers Stephen LaColla, Michael O'Toole, and Christopher Roberson with Leonard Shand, who returned to Courtroom Four to thank the officers for their alertness and quick response.

On July 12, 2007, a certificate of commendation was presented to Court Officer Martin Connolly for his contribution to the life-saving effort that took place at the Brooke Courthouse in May, since he had been on vacation when Mr. Shand returned to the courthouse on June 29th. From left: Chief Justice of the Probate & Family Court Sean Dunphy, Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert Mulligan, Court Officer Martin Connolly and Acting Director of Security Tom Connolly.

Return to Home Page