State Trooper Recognized for Stopping I-95 Bridge Jumper

A State Police Trooper who prevented a suicidal man from jumping off the Interstate 95 Bridge in Portsmouth in May was honored during Monday night's 2012 Congressional Law Enforcement Awards ceremony in Concord.

According to Stephanie DuBois, the communications director for U.S. Rep. Charles Bass, R-NH, State Trooper Peter Gilbert received the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty award for his actions on May 2.

"When Trooper Gilbert approached, the male began to lean forward and Trooper Gilbert stopped and asked him if they couldn't work this out. He asked the male if he would come back over the railing but he would not and Trooper Gilbert continued to talk with him. Trooper Gilbert asked if he could move closer so he could hear him because of the traffic and the male allowed him to move closer," wrote DuBois in an e-mail.

DuBois wrote that Trooper Gilbert listened to the man explain his situation and how he wanted to end it, how he had tried to commit suicide before and when asked if he had left a note and the man advised he had, Trooper Gilbert asked to read it. 

DuBois said the man allowed Trooper Gilbert to do so and he was able to walk past the man so that his back was to Trooper Gilbert. 

DuBois wrote that a second State Police trooper and Portsmouth Police Officer Brian Houde were watching the male, who did not check to see where Trooper Gilbert was.

"Trooper Gilbert motioned to Ofc. Houde and Trooper Call of his intentions to grab the male and made a move, locking his arms around the man. Trooper Call and Officer Houde assisted in bringing him safely back over the guard railing," she wrote.

Gilbert was one of several police officers who were honored during the 2012 Congressional Law Enforcement Awards ceremony at the New Hampshire Police, Standards and Training complex in Concord. U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, and U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-NH, along with Bass presented the awards.

An independent committee of law enforcement officers comprised of current and retired federal, state, county, and local officials chose the award recipients, according to DuBois.