Berkeley PD Officers Rescue Suicidal Person

Berkeley CA

18 March, 2021

11:53 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Berkeley: March 18, 2021 Berkeley, California (Thursday, March 18, 2021) - On March 6, 2021, at about 5:02 p.m., a witness called the Berkeley Police Department to report a person threatening to jump off the roof of a 5-story parking garage. Upon arrival, officers found an individual sitting on the garage ledge and threatening to jump. A responding officer immediately made contact, and began speaking with and de-escalating the person. Another responder was a Police Sergeant who is a trained Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) member, and a former tactical negotiator on our Special Response Team. After patiently talking with the individual, the Sergeant, an 18-year veteran of the department, convinced the person to return to safety. The individual walked towards the Sergeant and was immediately overcome with emotion and began crying. We commend this sergeant, and all the officers on this call, for their exceptional efforts to save the life of this community member. For any member of our community who is experiencing suicidal thoughts or any mental health challenge, or knows someone who is, help is available. National Suicide Prevention Hotline – (800) 273-8255 Berkeley Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team works 11am-9pm and is dispatched by the BPD Dispatch center – (510) 981-5900 Berkeley Mental Health also provides mental health services, resources, and crisis support through their triage line, (510) 981-5244, Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, or via walk in clinic hours at 1521 University Avenue, Monday-Thursday 10am-1pm Berkeley PD is available 24 hours via our Dispatch Center, or call 911 Note: The picture depicts the CIT pin officers receive after completing a 38-hour CIT course, which we wear with pride on our Class A and B (wool) uniforms. This uniform belongs to our acting Public Information Officer. Ofc. McDougall was not involved in the response to this incident. This press release was produced by the City of Berkeley. The views expressed here are the author's own.