Program Technician III

Department of Consumer Affairs

9/29/2021

Special Service Award (Silver)

On the afternoon of September 29, 2021, Department of Consumer Affairs Consumer Information Center Call Center Program Technician III Abby LeCureux fielded a telephone call via the CIC queue system. Sounding shaky and almost crying, the caller asked if Ms. LeCureux was affiliated with the California Health and Human Services Agency. Ms. LeCureux responded that she was not, at which point the caller said she needed to file a complaint and did not know who to file it with. Ms. LeCureux asked the caller how she might assist, at which point the caller started crying, stated that no one could help her, and then said, “I’m just going to kill myself—I am so tired, and I can’t keep doing this any longer: I’m going to blow my brains out.” Ms. LeCureux asked if the caller had a gun; the caller said that she did not but wished she did. Ms. LeCureux told the caller to breathe deeply and asked her again what was happening. Ms. LeCureux also emailed her supervisors noting the need for urgent help for a suicidal caller. Calmly keeping the caller engaged on the line, Ms. LeCureux got the caller’s name and location and emailed the information to her supervisors, who then notified local police. One of the Call Center supervisors then emailed Ms. LeCureux that local police were in the vicinity of the caller’s home and approaching the residence. Ms. LeCureux heard the knock on the caller’s door, heard the police officer identifying himself and asking the caller what was going on. The caller then disconnected the call. During the 40-minute call, LeCureux kept the caller engaged, got the caller’s name and location, and worked with supervisors to notify local police. Thanks to LeCureaux’s quick thinking and her ability to remain calm, the caller in crisis received swift and safe assistance. With no regard for her own safety, Ms. LeCureux went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting the Silver Medal of Valor to Department of Consumer Affairs Program Technician III Abby LeCureux.