San Bruno Police Officer Honored For Stopping Man From Jumping Off Window Ledge

Article Source: San Bruno CA Chief of Police Ed Barberini

The Distinguished Service Medal is issued to “any Police Department employee who distinguishes him/herself in the performance of such employee’s duties under unusual, complicated, or hazardous conditions where the employee used excellent judgment in accomplishing an assigned mission. This may also be awarded to any employee whose actions and training directly result in saving or preventing the loss of human life.”

ABOVE L: San Bruno Mayor Ruane R: Officer Ledesma

On June 25, 2017, at 1:4 1am, Officer Ledesma responded with other officers to a residence in San Bruno regarding the report of a family disturbance. Upon their arrival officers encountered a distraught subject sitting on the ledge of a bedroom window. The subject’s legs dangling outside of the window and he was threatening to harm himself by jumping. The drop from this window to the ground below was approximately thirty feet.

Officer Ledesma, who has received Crisis Intervention Training, spoke with this subject for approximately twenty minutes. As Officer Ledesma spoke with this subject he noticed that the subject’s emotional state changed quickly and dramatically and it was evident that his mental condition was unstable. By continuing to engage this subject in conversation, Officer Ledesma established an excellent rapport in an effort to keep him from jumping from the ledge. At one point, Officer Ledesma was very close to the subject and handed him a cigarette. Officer Ledesma recounted that he had considered grabbing the subject at that point, but he was not sure that he would have been able to secure the subject in his grip, so he decided against it.

Following twenty minutes of talking to this subject, Officer Ledesma noticed that the subject momentarily stepped from the ledge to look for a lighter that Officer Ledesma had provided him. Prior to stepping from the ledge, the subject admonished Officer Ledesma to not “try anything.” As the subject made this movement Officer Ledesma threw himself toward the subject and placed himself between the subject and the window ledge. Officer Ledesma later noted that as he took this action, he could clearly see the subject recognize his movement and attempt to move back toward the window ledge. Officer Ledesma quickly secured the subject without incident or injury. The subject was transported to a local hospital for much needed treatment.

Officer Ledesma’s actions in this instance certainly prevented the serious injury, or even death of a young person in crisis. Furthermore, these actions clearly meet the criteria set forth in policy for the issuance of the Distinguished Service Medal.

It is my honor and pleasure to award San Bruno Police Officer Thomy Ledesma with the Distinguished Service Medal for actions taken on June 25, 2017, to save a victim from great bodily injury or death.


Ed Barberini
Chief of Police
San Bruno Police Department
1177 Huntington Avenue – San Bruno, CA 94066
Office: (650) 616-7111
ebarberini@sanbruno.ca.gov

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Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives

Source Credit: City of San Bruno CA Chief of Police Ed Barberini

Web Site: https://sanbruno.ca.gov/

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