Aurora Man Honored For Stopping Stranger From Jumping Off Bridge

AURORA, IL -- Aurora Police are renowned for their heroism, so when they call Jessie Lazu "heroic," you know they know what they're talking about. Lazu was recently commended by the Aurora Police Department for pulling a suicidal woman off the ledge of a bridge just as she was about to jump.

On the evening of Jan. 18, police say they got a call reporting that a woman was suicidal. Police spent over an hour searching the area and interviewing family in an attempt to find the woman.

Just before 8 p.m., police say they got a phone call reporting that a female was standing on the ledge of the Illinois Avenue Bridge. When officers got to the scene, they saw Lazu's truck parked near the bridge and Lazu clutching the woman's coat as she stood on the ledge.

Officer Tyler Johnson was able to approach and get the woman down from the ledge. She was taken to a nearby hospital to receive treatment.

Police say dashcam footage shows Lazu "preventing the woman from going any further with her plan to commit suicide."

"Without Lazu's decision to act, the distraught woman would likely have gone over the railing of the bridge and injured herself, if not outright killed herself. Lazu was under no obligation to act, but he chose to become in a lifesaving act," Sergeant Edgar Gallardo said in a statement.

Gallardo then commended Officer Johnson for his quick action to help get the woman down from the bridge. He said he believes the incident "demonstrates how officers and citizens work together to save lives in the city of Aurora."

Chief Ziman said of Lazu, "You are a wonderful example of a citizen stepping up to help his fellow man."