Working as One: Beaufort Memorial Security Leader Receives Regional Honor

For 20 years, Beaufort Memorial Sergeant Sarah Pellot has offered strength, leadership and a passion for safety to the organization’s security department.

In early 2026, she was recognized for her compassion and commitment to teamwork, earning the honor of Security Officer of the Year in the Lowcountry.

Growing as a Team

Starting as an entry-level security officer, Sarah has grown through the ranks at Beaufort Memorial. Currently a sergeant, she has also worked in dispatch, taken on floor assignments and is also a preceptor tasked with training others entering the department.

Security Director Doug Rhodin recognized Sarah’s potential early, embracing her abilities and enabling her to have assisted translation on the more complex and technical language of her assessment in 2006, which helped open the door for her career at Beaufort Memorial.

Working in hospital security requires humility, flexibility and strong communication.

“I love everything that I do,” Sarah said. “But to do something good, you need a good team.”

The department’s strength is in its teamwork and camaraderie, she added. Each team member has a different skill set, and combining their strengths is what drives the Beaufort Memorial mission of hospital safety.

For example, Sarah’s favorite element of her job is de-escalation during a mental health crisis – an area where she has a gift, Rhodin said.

“Sarah is known for her compassion and great de-escalation skills,” he said. “Whenever a situation arises, she’s always first to arrive and her ability to talk down a situation is amazing. Even I, as a crisis prevention instructor, defer to her in these situations.”

Sarah’s passion for patients is mirrored by her colleagues as they work together and across all departments to ensure a safe environment for everyone on the hospital campus.

“My team, we all work as one,” she added. “Whatever happens on the night shift carries over to the day shift, and vice versa. We have each other, and we communicate a lot. We support each other.”

Leading Behind the Scenes

In Sarah’s role – and for all security officers – communication is key. These officers often work with clinical staff, maintenance teams and other departments to keep patient, visitor and staff safety front and center.

Much of that hard work happens behind the scenes, Sarah said.

Security is involved with many responsibilities that you wouldn’t expect, from checking critical systems like boiler operations to ensuring proper conditions in sensitive areas such as the hospital morgue.

Healthcare environments are high traffic, emotionally intense settings where vulnerable patients receive care. Violence in healthcare facilities has increased nationwide, further expanding the pressures associated with working in the challenging – but necessary – role of security officer.

“It can be dangerous,” Sarah admitted. “We make it look like everything is OK, but when we are dealing with aggressive or combative individuals, that’s where teamwork and communication really matter.”

Sarah’s fellow security officers aren’t just her colleagues and teammates – they’re comrades and friends.

“My favorite part is when we’re all together, like at the shift change, when we are all laughing and just being together as a team,” she said. “We all have different personalities, and there are so many different characters, but we all get along and support each other.”

A Well-Deserved Honor

Sarah’s commitment to collaboration and promoting safety at Beaufort Memorial earned her the honor of Security Officer of the Year, awarded by the Security Directors of the Lowcountry.

She was surprised when she found out that she had won.

“I thought I was just nominated,” she laughed, recalling the awards reception in February 2026. “I didn’t realize I’d won until I got there!”

What made the honor even more special was the fact that Sarah was able to share the celebration with her daughter, Shaira, and her grandson Jexavier.

“My daughter was so proud of me, and that made me feel amazing,” she said. “It made me feel like I had really accomplished something good.”

The Strength of Family

As a Beaufort Memorial security leader, Sarah is focused on strengthening collaboration and communication hospital-wide, building connections with other hospital departments to continue providing a safe environment for high-quality care.

Whether Sarah is responding to high-risk situations, mentoring new security officers or supporting hospital infrastructure behind the scenes, she comes to work every shift with heart – not just for Beaufort Memorial patients, but for her team.

“It’s really like a family here,” she said. “I can’t be anybody without them.”

Eager to put your skills and passion to work in your community? Browse current job openings at Beaufort Memorial.