A quick-thinking Portsmouth, Ohio Police officer saved a suicidal man on Monday morning.
Just after 10 am, a call came into dispatch regarding a suicidal man in a red truck threatening to drive the vehicle into the Ohio River (SCDN does not identify the names of suicidal individuals for privacy reasons) The caller said the distressed man could be found on the dirt road at Alexandria Point Park in the historic Portsmouth Boneyfiddle district.
When Officer James Davis arrived on the scene, the man was in the process of backing his vehicle into the river. However, he stopped when he saw the officer and told him he planned to drive in.
Talking Him Down
Officer Davis engaged the man in conversation and got him to open up about the family problems that had left him in a suicidal state and convinced him to exit the vehicle.
The troubled man was transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation. Officer Davis moved the vehicle to a safe parking space so a friend or family member could pick it up. He then turned the victim’s wallet and truck keys over to the Portsmouth Fire Department for safekeeping until someone could pick it up for the man.
Compassion Goes a Long Way
Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer could not comment on this particular case, but said this type of situation is something her officers are trained to handle and she’s proud of them. “We work hard to do our best in everything we do. Training and compassion go a long way in this line of work. Taking time to slow down and figure out problems and get people to the help they need is part of our job. It’s not always about catching the bad guy. I’m always proud of my officers.”
If you or someone you know is considering self-harm, call 1-800-273-8255 to get help. If it’s an emergency situation where immediate help is needed, call 9-1-1.