New York Police Department (NYPD) officers saved a woman's life in a dramatic rescue operation on the Brooklyn Bridge. On Wednesday evening, the woman was threatening to jump while standing on the bridge's steel cables; after nearly an hour of persuasion, police safely brought her down.
The NYPD Emergency Service Unit (ESU) responded around 7:38 p.m. local time to a report of a person in distress on the bridge. Officers determined the woman was standing on a high section of the bridge and wanted to jump.
An officer approached the woman and said, "I just want to talk. What's going on today?" The officer tried to persuade her, saying, "I want to help you, that's why I'm here. I really care. This is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I don't know what you're going through, but I want to understand. We can connect you with services."
After about an hour of dialogue, while the woman held onto a support cable with one arm, the officer suddenly approached, grabbed her by the arms, and brought her down safely. At that moment, the officer was heard saying, "Don't do it, don't do it, please. I've got you, you're okay, I promise. Everything is going to be okay."
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch praised the officers with rescue footage shared on her social media account. Tisch said, "This video will take your breath away. Over the East River, NYPD ESU officers climbed the Brooklyn Bridge and reached a woman in crisis. They stayed with her for about an hour, talking and waiting for the moment they could safely pull her from the edge. The care, courage and compassion they showed was extraordinary. God bless them."
The incident occurred during rush hour, causing all eastbound lanes of the bridge to be closed to traffic for hours. No information was provided about the woman's condition, while NYPD officials reminded people in similar situations to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK).
