Roxbury Associate Probation Officer Is Saved By Court Officer

BMC-Roxbury Assistant Chief Court Officer Frank Barbour, Court Officer Tracey Hampton-Jackman, and Chief Court Officer Kevin Thomas.

Boston Municipal Court-Roxbury Division Court Officer Anthony Holmes and Associate Probation Officer Rosemary Wright.

Rosemary Wright, a six- year Associate Probation Officer at Boston Municipal Court-Roxbury Division, was saved from choking to death thanks to the quick response of court officers, especially Anthony Holmes who performed the Heimlich Maneuver which cleared Wright’s throat.

Wright, who was on an elevator, had gotten a piece of candy lodged in her throat as she headed to the court’s first session to relieve one of her co-workers. Assistant Chief Court Officer Frank Barbour recognized that Wright was in distress as she rushed off the elevator and towards the restroom. Barbour followed and attempted to dislodge the object by taping Wright on her back but it would not budge. Chief Court Officer Kevin Thomas and Court Officers Tracey Hampton-Jackman and Anthony Holmes also rushed to Wright’s aid.

Holmes, who was recognized by the Town of Milton for saving a man from drowning in 1995, began the Heimlich Maneuver after first asking Wright permission to perform it.

“I responded the only way I could by shaking my head in the affirmative and on the third try, the piece of candy which had been lodged mid-way down my throat popped out of my mouth and only then did I feel a sense of relief,” Wright recalled. “It was really scary.”

Holmes, who is six-feet, two inches tall, remembered the momentary shock of discovering that the woman in distress was a colleague and then the awkwardness of performing the Heimlich on Wright who is just five-feet, two.

“Rose’s smiling face is the face that greets me every morning when I go to work,” said Holmes. “I heard the call coming over the radio. When I found her, she couldn’t breath and her eyes were watering. I just prayed that I could get it out. My first thought was ‘I don’t want to fail.’ I wanted to do everything I could. Rose is a great lady.”

He added, “It was three thrusts and then it came out. After that, I went back to the session.”

Holmes supervisor Assistant Chief Court Officer Barbour said, “We’re CPR-trained as Court Officers. There are a lot of seizures in court and other medical emergencies. We have to come to the aid of people. It is very common for us.”