Chatham-Kent police officers and emergency communications personnel were recognized Tuesday for their efforts in saving a suicidal woman this past spring.
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Receiving a chief’s commendation were constables Nathan Pratt, Ryan Gardiner, Alex Mungar, Avery Wilson, Branden Grellmore, Marko Sapateiro, Joel Rehill, Rick Bertok, Sgt. Josh Flikweert, and emergency communications operators (ECOs) Brock Bechard, Helen Grubb, Samantha Cowdrey, Danielle Bird, Jennifer Roesch, Tori Labadie, Keely Smith, McKenna Ladd, Brook-lyn Phelan and Camryn Dudley.
On May 16, police received a call from a suicide hotline requesting a well-being check on an individual, with information she was planning to attempt suicide.
Police had dealt with the same woman the previous day for similar suicidal ideas.
Due to his involvement with the woman the previous evening, Pratt started a search.
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There were multiple 911 calls that a woman was on top of the Charing Cross Road bridge over Highway 401. Gardiner and Mungar responded to the bridge and saw the woman with her feet dangling off the edge.
They asked OPP to close the highway and for Chatham-Kent fire to wait below the bridge.
Gardiner began negotiating with the woman, with Bertok arriving to assist, due to his previous involvement and rapport with her.
After 30 minutes, they were able to grab and secure her, removing her from the ledge and bringing her to safety. She was taken to hospital.
Other officers helped with traffic control. Flikweert co-ordinated the overall response.
Emergency communications operators were effective in relaying information, despite the incident occurring during a shift change, the police services board heard.
“(There’s) a whole lot of movement in the communications center,” Chief Kirk Earley said. “They continued to operate at peak performance.
“The co-ordinated efforts by everyone involved, our ECOs, our front line, fire and the OPP, definitely led to the most desirable outcome and definitely saved this woman’s life.”
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