A number of Brockville police officers are being recognized for their efforts in talking a man and a woman down from a railway overpass in two separate instances.
On Thursday, the officers were recognized by Member of Parliament for Leeds Grenville, Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes Michael Barrett for their life saving efforts. Â
Barrett presented the officers with a scroll at the Brockville Police Service detachment.
Back on October 17, Eric Ruigrok, Ross McCullough, Dustin Gamble and Geoff Fearon responded to a call on the William Street overpass for a suicidal subject. Â
Officers arrived on scene and found a 23-year-old woman sitting on the railing of the overpass with her legs hanging over the edge. Â
After engaging in conversation with the woman, Gamble took over the negotiations as he had developed a rapport with her from previous encounters. Â
The woman was convinced to bring one leg back over the railing to safety and the rest of the officers moved in pulling her to safety.
Then on November 18th, Shawn Borgford, Ross McCullough, Dustin Gamble and Geoff Fearon responded to another call for a suicidal male on the same overpass.
The police service had received several calls about a male straddling the railing on the overpass threatening suicide. Â
McCullough was the first officer to arrive on scene and observed the 51-year-old man straddling the railing. Â
An unknown citizen was trying to defuse the situation with the man, but left when police arrived. Â
McCullough began a conversation with the male and waited for the rest of the shift to arrive to assist. Â
After developing a plan, officers were able to safely approach the man without risking any injury to him, they pulled him to safety.
The officers are thanking the unknown citizen who attempted to intervene in the second incident. Â
They are also thanking their dispatchers who played a pivotal role in the incidents: Kendra Adair, Jeff Hepburn, Sophie Turner, Alicia Benson and Constable Darlene Reilly.