The Bridge
Quickly you dial the numbers 9-1-1 and wait with your back turned to have a dispatcher take you call. Your prayers are answered, thankfully, within a minute of your making the phone call.
"This is 9-1-1, what is your emergency?" Your voice is hurried but quiet as you explain the situation to the calming voice on the other end of the phone.
"Yes, I have a suicidal woman under my care. I have no clue who she is- she won't even give me her name. She was going to jump off the DuPoint Memorial Bridge, but I talked her out of it. She doesn't know I'm calling you, so please hurry and send someone."
The dispatcher is brief and to the point, telling you to stay with the woman as long as possible, offering you reasurrance that the local police precinct has been notified and will be on their way.
"Okay, thank you very much." You push the "end" button on the cell phone and sit with the woman, acting as if her brother should be there any minute. The woman is shaky and seemingly agitated during your wait, and the minutes seem to drag on for hours.
Five minutes later, a police cruiser comes rolling up the on ramp and pulls over beside the bus stop. The woman knows what has happened immediately and stands up, looking down at you resentfully.
"You promised not to call the cops!" She kicks dirt and gravel in your direction as the officer steps out of the vehicle and links his arm around the woman's elbow.
"Ma'm, no need to cause a scene. I can tell your in pain. Please come with me, we can settle this without violence." The officer's voice is commanding but sincere, and the woman slumps her head down, her chin meeting her chest, as she obeys the officer and sits down in his backseat.
"Thanks for coming so quickly. She made me promise not to call you guys, but I figured it was better not to take a chance." The officer shakes your hand and gets in his vehicle.
"You did the right thing, kid. It's always better to be safe than sorry, right?" He starts up the engine and drives away with the woman in his backseat crying.
"This is 9-1-1, what is your emergency?" Your voice is hurried but quiet as you explain the situation to the calming voice on the other end of the phone.
"Yes, I have a suicidal woman under my care. I have no clue who she is- she won't even give me her name. She was going to jump off the DuPoint Memorial Bridge, but I talked her out of it. She doesn't know I'm calling you, so please hurry and send someone."
The dispatcher is brief and to the point, telling you to stay with the woman as long as possible, offering you reasurrance that the local police precinct has been notified and will be on their way.
"Okay, thank you very much." You push the "end" button on the cell phone and sit with the woman, acting as if her brother should be there any minute. The woman is shaky and seemingly agitated during your wait, and the minutes seem to drag on for hours.
Five minutes later, a police cruiser comes rolling up the on ramp and pulls over beside the bus stop. The woman knows what has happened immediately and stands up, looking down at you resentfully.
"You promised not to call the cops!" She kicks dirt and gravel in your direction as the officer steps out of the vehicle and links his arm around the woman's elbow.
"Ma'm, no need to cause a scene. I can tell your in pain. Please come with me, we can settle this without violence." The officer's voice is commanding but sincere, and the woman slumps her head down, her chin meeting her chest, as she obeys the officer and sits down in his backseat.
"Thanks for coming so quickly. She made me promise not to call you guys, but I figured it was better not to take a chance." The officer shakes your hand and gets in his vehicle.
"You did the right thing, kid. It's always better to be safe than sorry, right?" He starts up the engine and drives away with the woman in his backseat crying.