These Pasco officers and firefighters saved a man’s life on the cable bridge
Three Pasco police officers and two firefighters were honored for saving a distraught man who tried jumping from the cable bridge.
Officers Jeff Cobb, Justin Greenhalgh and Saul Mendoza, as well as firefighters Juan Sanchez and Mike Gobbon received Medals of Meritorious Service at an employee recognition dinner.
The five helped in the May 2019 rescue of a 38-year-old man spotted on the other side of the bridge railing above the Columbia River shortly after 11:30 a.m. Their heroic efforts were captured on their body cameras.
Cobb is trained in helping people in crisis and began talking to the man. Greenhalgh and Mendoza arrived soon after.
As they discussed the situation with Sgt. Brian Vaught, they came up with a plan — they could grab the man, if they were tied to the four-story-tall bridge.
The two firefighters had training with ropes and harnesses. Sanchez and the two officers tied themselves to a fire engine.
Cobb kept the man engaged, but as the trio approached the bridge, the man started moving farther over the side.
The three hopped the railing and grabbed him just as he started falling. They were able to bring him in and get him help.
Medals of Meritorious Service are rare, said Pasco police.
The last one was earned by Officer Josh Madsen in 2010 when he confronted a group of armed suspects by himself after a shooting in Chiawana Park.
Before that it was awarded in 2004 to K9 Officer Jason Miller after he refused to give up on tracking some murder suspects.
Anyone feeling distraught and needing help can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. The service is always open.
This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 10:47 AM.