2 People, Officers Help Suicidal Person In Norwich: Police

NORWICH, CT — The Norwich Police Department is heralding two citizens and several officers who helped prevent a person from committing suicide.

Police responded Friday at 5:49 a.m. after receiving a call from a 211 crisis worker who was on the phone with a person in a mental health crisis threatening to hurt themselves.

The person was threatening to hang themselves from a bridge near the Norwich Marina.

While checking the area, Officer Ryan Dunn heard yelling on West Main Street just past American Wharf. The officer stopped, left his patrol car, and saw a person on the other side of the chain-link fence being held by two others.

The officer ran over and grabbed the person's right arm to prevent them from falling into the water below. Officers Victoria Clarke and Megan Crawford arrived to help Officer Dunn hold onto the person.

Canine Officer Jared Nelson also arrived and spoke with the individual. Nelson was able to persuade the person to climb back over the fence to safety following several minutes of negotiation.

The person was unharmed and was taken to William W. Backus Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

"The Norwich Police Department would like to recognize the two unknown citizens who stopped to aid the individual prior to police arrival," police said in a statement.

The department also recognized Dispatcher Dane Majewski, Officer James Watts, Officer Dunn, Clarke, Crawford, and Nelson "for their courage, professionalism, and empathy during this dynamic incident."