CHP Officers Praised For Rescuing Distraught Woman From Bay Bridge Ledge
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Two CHP officers were commended for their bravery Wednesday after helping get a distraught woman safely off a ledge on the eastern span of the Bay Bridge the evening before.
According to CHP, on Tuesday at about 5:25 p.m., dispatchers received several phone calls from passing motorists about a woman who had stopped her vehicle east of Treasure Island while traveling in the westbound direction on the Bay Bridge.
Callers told dispatchers that the woman had climbed over the railing on the north side of the bridge. She was seated on the platform with no safety railings.
CHP San Francisco Area Motorcycle Officers Jeremy Maya and Dustin Ribergaard responded to the call confirmed with CHP dispatch after their arrival that there was a possibly suicidal female subject sitting on the ledge of the bridge ready to jump over the side.
Both of the officers tried to speak with the woman, but received limited response.
As the situation escalated and the subject became more distraught, Officer Maya used a tow strap from a Caltrans bridge tow truck and -- with help from Officer Ribergaard -- tied it around himself and the bridge railing.
Officer Maya, a Crisis Intervention Trained (CIT) Officer, then climbed over the bridge railing and engaged the distraught woman.
After approximately 25 minutes of conversation, he was able to convince the woman to come back over the railing.
The woman was safely taken into custody and transported to St. Francis Hospital for a mental health evaluation.
"I am very proud of Officers Maya and Ribergaard for their professionalism and compassion. This is another example of law enforcement officers putting themselves in harm's way to save lives," said San Francisco Area Commander Captain Christopher Sherry in a statement. "Both officers lived up to their oath as public protectors. They are true heroes."
