On a bitter November Friday, parole officer Jim Carroll was thrown into the limelight after wounding a 39-year-old parolee, Gerrard Blacknell, and saving the lives of Blacknell’s estranged wife, Kimberly (Jones) Blacknell, and her 7-year-old son. “I thank you for your heroic actions in responding to a hostage situation,” said PEF President Roger Benson. “Despite personal danger to yourself, you acted to save the life of a woman and her young child, and suffered injury as a result of your efforts. PEF commends you for those brave actions.” Carroll, a PEF Division 236 member, hurt his head during a scuffle with Blacknell, who lunged at him with a knife. According to Carroll, he and five other parole officers — Lynn Fox, Jeff Green, Jay Moss, Dawn Marquart and Luis Mendoza — went to the Syracuse apartment along with two police officers because Blacknell was a fugitive who violated his parole. He had a violent criminal record, history of resisting arrest and violating his parole. When the officers arrived, they saw Kimberly Blacknell in a frantic state, dangling from a windowsill of her third-floor apartment. Her estranged husband pulled her back inside. “They were yelling and screaming when we entered the apartment,” Carroll said. “We formed a semicircle around them, as Blacknell was holding her by the throat and pointing a knife to her head. “She broke away when Fox sprayed Mace at Blacknell,” Carroll said. In the chaotic moments following, Blacknell refused to surrender the knife and became increasingly agitated. That’s when he lunged at Carroll, who shot him twice in the hip area. “He had to be disarmed,” Carroll said. “Blacknell was out-of-control, and I feared he would injure or even kill his wife, the boy or me.” Blacknell’s injuries were not life-threatening. Police charged him with three felonies — first-degree burglary, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree criminal contempt, plus second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor. Carroll credits the professionalism of his co-workers for resolving this incident without harm to Kimberly Blacknell and her son. Syracuse police Chief Gary Miguel agreed. In a November 19 Post-Standard news story, Miguel said, “All the officers involved acted extremely professionally, courageously and probably saved the life of this woman. They did an outstanding job.” “It could have been a tragic ending,” Carroll said. “We were all grateful that the officers involved were able to go home. We were also glad the mother and son got to spend a safe Thanksgiving together.” By DEBORAH A. MILES