Ferndale Police Honored for Stopping Suicidal Jumper
(C. Proxmire, Ferndale 115 News, June 1, 2012 ed)
Two Department Life Saving Awards were presented at the Ferndale City Council Meeting of May 29, 2012. Officers Jason White and Andrew Wurm were honored for their bravery and quick-thinking when rescuing a suicidal man from the Eight Mile express lane overpass above Woodward.
A report submitted by Lt. Dennis Emmi explains “On Feb. 2, 2012 at 0630 hours, Officer White was patrolling the area of Eight Mile Road and Woodward Avenue when he saw a man sitting on a guard rail. The man’s legs were hanging over the Eight Mile express lanes, twenty five feet below. Traffic was heavy, as the morning commute was underway.
Officer White realized that this was a man contemplating suicide. Officer White informed dispatch, exited his scout car and approached the subject. The man began to inch closer to jumping into traffic as Officer White approached him. Officer White began to trying to talk the subject from the railing.
The man was ignoring Officer White’s pleas and continued to inch closer as Officer Wurm arrived. Officer Wurm continued to distract the subject as Officer Wurm approached him.
Officer Wurm grabbed the subject and pulled him back over the guard rail to safety. The man was sent to William Beaumont Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.”
Chief Timothy Collins presented the awards before Council and the public, noting that this was Wurm’s fifth Life Saving Award.
For more Police-related stories, go to https://oaklandcounty115.com/category/police_and_fire/.