State trooper curtails suicide attempt
Law enforcement officials are trained to be on the lookout, to catch the bad guys and to help those in need. So when State Trooper David Schmidt of Ixonia saw a man with one leg over an overpass bridge while on patrol, he didn't hesitate to react. For preventing a potential suicide, Schmidt was recognized with the State Patrol Life Saving Award during a ceremony at the State Capitol on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
How to save a life
Schmidt was working construction mitigation for Waukesha County on May 14, 2011, and was turning around on Highway 100 just into Milwaukee County when he spotted something odd on the I-94 overpass. He saw a man on the overpass with a backpack below him and one leg over the barrier wall watching the traffic below.
"When I went by, I know he saw me," Schmidt said. "I thought it looked odd and circled back."
Schmidt turned on his lights and slowly approached the man reassuring him that he was there to help.
Captain Timothy Carnahan of the Waukesha County State Patrol reports that Schmidt asked the man what his name was, and asked if he needed help. The man was crying and told Schmidt that he had a bad day, and only wanted to hurt himself, not anyone else. Schmidt asked if it was OK to touch the man's shoulder, and the man said yes. The man was then pulled from the barrier wall.
When asked why he didn't jump, the man told Schmidt that he was waiting for a semi to "do it right." The man smelled of alcohol and continued to explain that he was in some financial trouble due to real estate ventures.
The man was placed in handcuffs for Schmidt's safety, and he was later was turned over to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department where he was transported to a hospital.
"He did an outstanding job. It's the kind of work that any law enforcement officer would do," Captain Carnahan said.
Trained for this
Before Schmidt became a state trooper in 2007, he worked in the prison system where he had dealt with potential suicides. He added that in today's world, it seems more and more people are contemplating actions such as suicide.
As law enforcement, "it's your job not only to monitor traffic, but you've got to be aware of surroundings," Carnahan said of law enforcement, and commends Schmidt for his attention to detail while on patrol. "I think the way that he reacted and the dialogue he had with the subject both before and after shows compassion."
Carnahan added that law enforcement, "try to approach people we think are considering jumping off a bridge in a careful way," which is just what Trooper Schmidt did.
In a suicidal situation such as the one Schmidt prevented, it is important for officials to keep all the repercussions in mind. Carnahan explained that if the man had jumped, his life would have been lost, but the person who would have been unfortunate enough to hit him would have had to live with that moment the rest of their life.
"It's clear that he has a very good sense of community," Carnahan said of Schmidt. "Schmidt is a modest fellow. (The way he handled the situation) is something that I think is deserving of recognition. I couldn't be prouder."
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