Police Officer Recognized For Rescuing Calhoun Street Bridge Jumper

MORRISVILLE, PA —A Morrisville Borough police officer is being recognized for his life-saving efforts after a man jumped off the Calhoun Street Bridge and take his own life in early January.

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission recently presented a proclamation to Police Officer Lew Halas for his role in the Jan. 8 incident.

The DRJTBC is a bistate transportation agency with a network of 20 bridges linking the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where one of the bridges connects Calhoun Street in Trenton with Trenton Avenue in Morrisville.

Around 4:35 p.m. on Jan. 8, Officer Halas was dispatched to the Calhoun Street Bridge for a suicidal subject.

Halas proceeded to the gravel lot next to the Bridge Commission building and observed a man jump over the ledge.

The man was then floating in the river but was able to get his footing and was eventually able to get closer to the wall where Halas threw a life preserver to him.

The man was instructed to float down to where Halas could reach him from the wall due to the drop off.

Halas and a Bridge Commission Officer were able to grab the man to safety.

"Officer Halas demonstrated professionalism, fortitude, and an unwavering commitment to his oaths and training by preventing a potentially fatal incident at the Commission Bridge," the DRJTBC said in its proclamation.