Medal for Heroism
Deputy Trent Hoffman
Orange County Sheriff’s Department
Exemplary Performance Award
Deputy Jeremy Campbell
Orange County Sheriff’s Department
During the early afternoon hours of Saturday, December 16, 2006, Deputies Hoffman and Campbell were escorting an inmate from a visiting booth in the administrative segregation area of the Theo Lacy Facility. Administration segregation is where the most violent and dangerous inmates are housed. The inmate they were escorting had an extensive history of violence and gang affiliation and was facing murder charges. He was facing life in prison and had nothing to lose.
As the inmate exited the visiting booth, he suddenly turned and attacked Deputy Hoffman with a homemade weapon known as a “shank.” The inmate attempted to stab Deputy Hoffman in the neck, but Deputy Hoffman blocked the initial attack. The inmate lunged at him again and plunged the shank in Deputy Hoffman’s shoulder and back.
Without concern for his own safety, Deputy Campbell came to Deputy Hoffman’s aid, fighting with the armed inmate. Deputy Hoffman, bleeding from the stab wounds, refused to give up or leave his partner to fight the inmate alone. As the fight continued, the inmate was able to stab Deputy Hoffman a third time in the back. Deputy Hoffman grabbed the inmate’s arm and attempted to remove the weapon when the inmate turned and bit him on the elbow, attempting to tear the flesh away with his teeth. Deputy Campbell punched the inmate several times, trying to get him to release his bite hold. Deputies Hoffman and Campbell were able to disarm the inmate and wrestled him to the ground. The inmate was eventually restrained and handcuffed with the assistance of responding deputies.
The inmate remained combative as he was being treated by the Orange Fire Department paramedics. He was sedated and transported to the hospital where doctors found, during their examination, a handcuff key, five razors and two pieces of metal approximately 1.5 inches long concealed inside the inmate.
Deputy Jeremy Campbell, without concerns for his own safety, engaged the armed inmate and assisted his partner in subduing him, preventing greater injuries to Deputy Hoffman. Deputy Hoffman, after being attacked and stabbed, refused to leave his partner to fight alone and continued battle with the inmate until he was subdued, even after being stabbed again.
For their acts of bravery and refusal to give up during this life-threatening situation, the Golden Badge Foundation is proud to present Deputy Trent Hoffman with the Medal for Heroism and Deputy Jeremy Campbell with the Exemplary Performance Award.
