validating unix/linux service status

HI there...  Im validating a script that I found here in thwack to create monitors for unix/linux services running on redhat 6 servers

script arguments::/bin/bash ${SCRIPT} jtv55

#!/bin/bash

status_output=`/sbin/service $1 status`

if [[ $status_output = *stopped* ]]

then

        echo "Message: $1 service is NOT running"

        echo "Statistic: 1"

        exit 1

elif [[ $status_output = *running* ]]

then

        echo "Message: $1 service is currently running"

        echo "Statistic: 0"

        exit 0

fi

While testing script: I manually stop the running services on the server ... but script output always tells me is "currently running" .. 

Is there something wrong  with the script?  Any ideas on how make this script work correctly?