WEDNESDAY, September 2, 2026|
Photo – Deputy Jason Black (left) and Sergeant Pat Patterson (right) with their awards – Courtesy County Commissioner Sue Jones
Carbon County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Pat Patterson and Deputy Jason Black received departmental lifesaving awards for assisting a suicidal person.
During yesterday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Alex Bakken announced that on August 4th, county emergency dispatchers received reports of a suicidal individual armed with a handgun near Highway 130 in the Snowy Range. Sheriff Bakken said Sergeant Patterson and Deputy Black responded to the call.
The two officers located the subject and began to de‑escalate the situation. Sheriff Bakken said after three tense hours of negotiations, the armed individual surrendered.
Sheriff Bakken said the individual was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbon County for a mental health evaluation and received follow‑up care. He added that the person recently called the Sheriff’s Office to thank them for helping him through his crisis.
For their exemplary communication skills, calm demeanor, and composure during a dangerous situation, Sheriff Bakken presented Sergeant Pat Patterson and Deputy Jason Black with departmental lifesaving awards. The Board of Commissioners thanked the two officers for their efforts. The sheriff said the situation demonstrated the range of high‑risk encounters his deputies face every day.
It was noted later in the meeting that Sheriff Bakken also responded to the same call but credited his deputies for the outcome.
