During these times of COVID-19 or not, mental health is still a major problem worldwide. Feeling like life is closing in on you, like nothing is going to make you feel any better, feeling trapped or lost, or some combination of all those feelings and more are real. And just because someone doesn’t understand it, does not give them the right to belittle mental health and thoughts of suicide. Fortunately, there is one less family suffering through the loss of a loved one, thanks to a few officers at the Atlantic City Police Department.
Officer Eric Knuttel from the Crisis Negotiation Team and other officers were able to save a man who was standing on top of a parking garage, threatening to jump off and end his life. Officer Knuttel talked to the man for 10 minutes before he and the other officers on the scene moved in and grabbed the man. They all hugged him and held onto him to calm him down and tell him that they love him. The man was Facetiming with someone and the person on the other end of the call wanted to make sure they weren’t hurting him. Officer Knuttel assured the caller that they were not hurting him. Even when the man was possibly asking them to end his life, Officer Knuttel responded with “I can’t because I love you, alright? I love you” (ladbible.com 1).
Body Cam Video Captures The Officers Helping Save The Man
Praise for these officers has been pouring in since the video and story hit the news last Wednesday. A positive story involving the police is should always be reported on, especially now with the current climate of police departments in recent years.
Interim Officer-in-Charge James Sarkos has this to say on Facebook about his officers and their quick response to save this man:
“I am extremely proud of the bravery and compassion shown by Officer Knuttel and the other officers for this man who was in severe emotional distress. Their actions are indicative of the work routinely done by members of this police department. For years, the Atlantic City Police Department has taken a proactive approach when it comes to the mental health of our residents and visitors by partnering with social service organizations and providing training to our officers. For years, the Atlantic City Police Department has taken a proactive approach when it comes to the mental health of our residents and visitors by partnering with social service organizations and providing training to our officers.”
Interim Officer-in-Charge James Sarkos
2020 has been hard on all of us in one way or another. But for people with depression, anxiety, or any other mental health problem, it has been even more difficult. And more and more people are experiencing symptoms of these because we’ve had to social distance and not see our family and friends as we would normally be able to. These diseases do not always show obvious symptoms. It can be easily hidden from the rest of society, which is one of the many reasons why some people don’t believe these are real issues and that people are just making them up for attention or to just get out of doing daily things. To those people, shame on you. Find some compassion, do some research, talk to other people; do something instead of making people feel worse about themselves, and possibly end it all.
If you or someone you know may be suffering from suicidal thoughts or actions, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800 273 8255. It is 24/7 and anonymous. Know you are not alone and someone can help you and want to help you. Stay safe everyone and keep your heads up!
For a story about 911 dispatch callers and some of the most powerful and a little weird stories they’ve heard, click here
