Bergen Cop Saves 15-Year-Old From Committing Suicide: Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — An Elmwood Park police officer saved the life of a boy mere seconds before he was going to jump off a bridge, authorities said.

Authorities received several 911 calls just before 4 p.m. Wednesday about a 15-year-old boy who was trying to kill himself by jumping off the Broadway bridge over Route 20, said Chief Michael Foligno.

Officer Keith Hartmann was the first officer on scene. He grabbed the boy when he was almost over a fence and pulled him down to safety, Foligno said.

The boy "was determined to kill himself" and asked Hartmann to "shoot him with his gun," Foligno said.

Hartmann held the boy down on the ground until other officers arrived to help, the chief said. Paterson police officers arrived a short time later and took the boy into custody.

Hartmann "did an outstanding job under a stressful circumstance and should be recognized for his actions," Foligno said.

More children and teenagers in New Jersey are committing suicide. After unintentional injury and illness, suicide is now the third leading cause of death for New Jersey's young people ages 10-24.

The number of suicides among children and young adults has increased 40 percent since 2002, according to the New Jersey Youth Suicide Report.

Related: More NJ Teens Are Committing Suicide: Why It's Happening And What Can Be Done

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