A loud groan followed by a heavy thump broke the silence as Edward Brooks and his co-workers cleaned an office in San Quentin’s medical unit in late September 2023.
They stared at each other and immediately began searching for the source of the noise, Brooks recalled.
“I’ve always had a kind heart towards people from my upbringing; but, somewhere along the line, it got twisted,” Brooks said.
It did not take long before they discovered a correctional officer leaned over a podium, incapacitated. The three men, all incarcerated, immediately reacted.
Brooks, Junior Roberts, and Rodney Alexander are all incarcerated Healthcare Facility Maintenance workers at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. All three are serving indeterminate life sentences.
“It took me back to the level-four yard,” Alexander said. “I seen a dude on the ground, and I couldn’t do anything because he was another race. I wanted to help him, but I couldn’t because of the politics.”
Prior to coming to San Quentin, all three individuals served time at level-four institutions, facilities designated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to hold the state’s most dangerous and violent offenders.
They spoke about the negative relationships that existed — and still exists — between correctional officers and incarcerated individuals.
“In the past I looked at them [correctional officers] as the enemy, but, at that moment, I just wanted to help,” Alexander added.
Brooks said that upon discovering the officer, he noticed him sliding down and moved the wooden podium so the officer would not hit his head.
All three men began shouting and attempting to flag down nearby nursing staff. They eventually got the attention of a nurse, who quickly followed them to the podium.
According to a report generated by the Director of Outpatient Nursing at San Quentin, the officer displayed “signs of seizure activity.”
“Facial skin color darkened, breath sounds crackled harsh and loud, [and] white sputum with blood tinge coming from mouth,” the report said.
The director commended the three incarcerated individuals for their “speedy first response to a medical emergency.”
“Because of their swift act to get medical help, moved items out of harm’s way, all prevented a possible longer-term cognitive/mental change that custody officer could have experienced if care was delayed,” the director said.
All three of these men were committed to CDCR for violent crimes. They have spent a combined total of over 80 years behind bars.
“After spending over half of my life in prison, I believe change is possible if you apply yourself,” Brooks said. “Everyone makes mistakes. I look at all men as human beings, regardless of how they look at me.”
Roberts said that the mentality he had coming into prison has completely shifted in comparison to the man he is today.
“Back then, it was us against the C/Os,” Robert said. “[Today,] as long as I see myself doing the right thing, I have no problems.”
Alexander recalled the moment he could not help a man who needed his assistance on the level-four yard, but this time he was able to respond.
“When I seen the officer, I just wanted to help him,” he said. “That moment on the four yard always stuck with me. It wasn’t right. Me not helping someone that needed my assistance? I didn’t want that on my conscience.”
