On May 27, Emergency Service Unit officers from the Westchester County Police rescued a man who was threatening to jump from the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.
About 9:45 a.m., New York State Thruway Authority personnel reported that a man had climbed over a barricade and was standing on a narrow ledge above the Hudson River in an apparent suicide attempt. WCPD officers responded, utilized their crisis intervention training and de-escalation skills, calmed the man and earned his trust.
WCPD ESU Officers deployed rescue ropes and PO Tyler Hinkley went over the barricade, dangling 130 feet above the river as he placed the man in a rescue harness. He was assisted by other ESU members and state troopers in getting the man back to safety. The WCPD Marine Unit also responded in the event it was necessary to lower the man and PO Hinkley to safety.
The man was turned over to NYSP troopers who were ensuring he would get the care he needs.
“There was great teamwork among our ESU personnel, state troopers, the fire service and NYS Thruway Authority personnel to bring this incident to a safe conclusion for all,” Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said. “I commend our ESU officers for their skillful actions that resulted in saving a life.”
Gleason said ESU members train regularly to respond to a wide range of emergencies and utilized that training today in today’s incident.
The commissioner commended Chief Inspector James Luciano, Sgts. Isai Moreira and Jeff Slotoroff, and Police Officers Tyler Hinkley, Nicholas Zerbrowski and Joseph Kraus for a job well done this morning.
Agencies that also responded were the Tarrytown Fire Department, Central Nyack Fire Departments, marine units and divers from the Nyack, Thiells and Piermont Fire Departments, Rockland County Sheriff marine units, Tarrytown and Nyack EMS, and a police medic from the Town of Greenburgh.
