“I want to help others avoid what happened to me.”
Freddie Hewitt II hospitalized following knifing attack at work in 2022
Two and a half years ago, IBEW 1245 member, Freddie Hewitt, II, a PG&E Gas Compliance Representative (GCR) from San Carlos, California defied the odds and lived.
Less than one and a half months into his new job at PG&E, Brother Hewitt was attacked at work by a random, knife wielding passer-by on the street who stabbed him in the neck, hitting his jugular.
According to Hewitt, thanks to quick action from his crew, the police, and medical team, he survived the attack. It was no small task, requiring a six-hour surgery and a long, painful recuperation.
Today, after two years of recovery and hard work, Brother Hewitt is back on the job. “I’m doing much better, though I’ve lost function in some of my limbs and have permanent facial nerve damage; I have to take care when I’m eating,” he shared. He also deals with the emotional scars of the assault and the stress that goes along with facing his assailant in a court of law. Court proceedings are in process as of this writing.
But his spirit is indomitable, according to IBEW 1245’s GSR Ernie Peňa.
Freddie Hewitt II pictured with Kelly Monroy, PG&E Corporate Security & CTP Chair/GSR Ernie Peňa
Peňa, himself, an IBEW 1245 GSR who survived a shooting while at work, reached out to Hewitt, sharing, “I just wanted to support him. I’ve gone through the same thing,” said Peňa. “The first emotion is fear that this could happen again, then anger, because the company isn’t providing adequate support, and then action.”
For Peňa, action translated into becoming Chairperson of the IBEW 1245’s peer-to-peer Control the Pressure (CTP) safety group.
The CTP peer-to-peer program is dedicated to educating the membership about the importance of safety on the job. The motto is, “If you see something, say something.” It is one of IBEW 1245’s four peer-to-peer safety Committees.
Led by Peňa, IBEW 1245’s CTP program successfully pressured PG&E to adopt enhanced communication systems to alert all PG&E employees if there’s been an assault or other hazards in real time and to provide dedicated armed security for crews working night shifts and day shifts as needed. They played a key role developing a working relationship with the Oakland Police Department. Peňa also set up a monthly meeting for survivors to meet and check in with one another. “It heals you when you talk about it. PSTD is real,” he said.
Peňa recruited Hewitt to join CTP, and enlisted him to share his story at trainings, safety summits and yards.
In late January, 2025, Brother Hewitt told his story at the PG&E Leak Survey/Corrosion Safety Summit, the first in a series. Joining members of the CTP Advisory Committee, he emphasized the importance of situational awareness.
Left to right: CTP Advisory Committee Board Members Ramono Marin, Jason Preston, Nilda Holguin, Brandon Lee & Ernie Pena at the PG&E Leak Survey/Corrosion Safety Summit, February 2025.
“Brother Hewitt is selfless in his sharing of his story on what occurred when he was violently attacked and suffered a life-threatening injury. But, instead of ‘why me’ he has chosen to take this experience and use it as a tool to provide a teachable moment for his brothers and sisters in situational awareness and that hazards can come in an unconventional manner,” stated IBEW 1245 Business Representative Kadota who was hearing Hewitt’s story for the first time.
Kadota added, “In the short time that I listened to him, he set the example to me of what it truly means to be a Brother’s Keeper. To not only overcome a potential negative life changing event and use it as a tool to reach out and help others become safer not just on the job but, in life, is true admirable.”
IBEW 1245 Safety Director Jody Castro stated, “It is incredibly courageous for Freddie to go back to work in the field where he was assaulted. Hopefully, by sharing his story he will help prevent others from suffering the same.”
“CTP is instrumental in our day-to-day work life. We promote safety in every aspect of our work…making sure our brothers and sisters work safely so they go home to their families at the end of their shifts.” Nilda Garcia, CTP Advisory Council Member
CTP Advisory Council member Nilda Garcia, a Traffic Control Utility Worker stated, “Freddie’s story had me in tears.” She praised the work of the CTP peer-to-peer group saying, “CTP is instrumental in our day-to-day work life. We promote safety in every aspect of our work…making sure our brothers and sisters work safely so they go home to their families at the end of their shifts.”
Meanwhile, IBEW 1245 is exploring the development of a “Critical Incident Stress Management” initiative modeled on programs fire and police departments use to support their employees. The program provides training and therapeutic support for members, their co-workers and families following a traumatic event such as the one Hewitt suffered.
Brother Hewitt shared, “I want to help others avoid what happened to me, and if something happens, I want all the pieces to be in place to help.”
He went on to thank his family, his co-workers, the police, corporate security, the medical team, and the union for their unflinching support. “Thank you for all the support; you helped me through the dark times; thank you for worrying about each other,” he said.
– Eileen Purcell, Sr. Advisor