First-ever HOPE Awards Honor 14 Officers for Heroic Work in Suicide Prevention
February 4, 2019
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - New York City Chapter (AFSP - NYC) co-hosted with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) the first-ever HOPE Awards. The ceremony, presided over by Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill, was held at One Police Plaza today to recognize officers that contributed to the rescue of suicidal persons and people in crisis.
The actions of the awardees included crisis communication skills, specialized training to treat wounds, sharing information that dispels suicide and mental illness myths, and recognizing the signs of a person in crisis and how to properly respond to that person. The officers provided relief in incidents involving a suicidal person on a bridge, an armed person barricaded in an apartment, and a situation where a person in crisis needed to be located using social media and specialized technology.
The HOPE Awards is a continuation of the long-standing partnership between the NYPD and AFSP - NYC as well as their national office. The partnership has included AFSP staff sharing their Talk Saves Lives presentations at police-community events to raise awareness of the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, helping develop training for police officers, and sponsoring and participating in the first-ever NYPD psychological autopsy training created specifically for law enforcement.
"The NYPD's primary mission is to fight crime and keep people safe in every New York City neighborhood," Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill said. "The officers being honored today represent a critical and often unheralded part of this daily work: helping people in crisis. NYPD cops are the very best at what they do, and the people they saved are - quite literally - living proof of that. I thank the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for recognizing the exceptional work of our police, and for continuing to strengthen our partnership in these important efforts."
"We are here today to recognize NYPD officers and detectives, who have through their brave actions, saved a life. Learning the warning signs of suicide is something everyone can do to join these outstanding law enforcement officers in the fight to stop suicide," said Bob Gebbia, AFSP, CEO.
"We are proud to partner with the New York City Police Department to honor 14 officers that represent the great work the men and women of their department do every single day to help people in crisis," said, Amy Monahan, AFSP - NYC Area Director.
"Today's HOPE Awards is a continuation of our commitment to work with the NYPD to help raise awareness of mental wellness, to make sure officers and the public are aware of the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, and share resources for those that need help."
AWARDEES
1. Police Officer Miguel Donovan
Police Officer Donovan, assigned to the 48 Precinct in the Bronx, was one of the officers who responded to a call of an emotionally disturbed man at an intersection in the Bronx. When he arrived, Officer Donovan observed a man holding a knife to his neck and threatening to kill himself. While the man was distracted, Police Officer Donovan moved forward and disarmed him. Officer Donovan's quick actions resulted in no one being injured during the incident.
2. Detective Claudio Sanchez
During a delicate standoff, Detective Sanchez of the Emergency Service Unit rescued a suicidal man atop one of the RFK Bridge towers. Working closely with more than 30 other ESU members on the ground, air, and water, Detective Sanchez engaged the man in dialogue, assuring him they were there to help him. By building trust and rapport with the man, Detective Sanchez was able to get him to sit down. Shortly after, the man became disoriented and Detective Sanchez moved toward the man, securing him, and bringing him to safety.
3. Police Officer Darlene Guillen
Prior to becoming a police officer in Brooklyn's 84 Precinct, Officer Guillen was a NYPD Communications Technician. Her role included teaching her peers Mental Health First Aid. The training, part of the City's THRIVE NYC outreach, increases NYPD civilians' awareness of mental illnesses, as well as teaching suicide prevention strategies, communication tactics, and overall self-care approaches to maintain one's mental wellness. Because of her work, civilian members of the Department are now better prepared to help others in crisis and be better able to take care of their own mental health.
4. Sergeant Christopher Marrone, 5. Detective Jacob Habib and 6. Detective Andrew Shore
Sergeant Marrone and Detectives Habib and Shore, all members of the NYPD Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT), assisted with a serious standoff incident involving a man wanted for previous crimes. He was barricaded in a residence and holding multiple people hostage at gunpoint. The man also made suicidal threats and engaged in actions of self-harm. Working with other emergency responders, the HNT members maintained calm and professional while engaging the man in dialogue. This contributed to the end result of the man being taken into custody and the hostages safely being freed.
7. Police Officer Corey Bleaken and 8. Police Officer Gary Strebel
While working on patrol on the Upper East Side in the confines of the 19th Precinct, Police Officers Bleaken and Strebel received a radio call for a suicidal man who had injured himself. The man had originally called a suicide hotline when the crisis counselor reached out to the Department for immediate assistance. Upon arriving on the scene, the officers quickly applied their Department-issued tourniquet to the man's injuries saving his life. While they waited for an ambulance to arrive, the officers kept the man safe and assured him they were getting him help.
9. Detective Walter Warkenthien
Detective Warkenthien was on his way to being promoted at a ceremony at 1 Police Plaza when, as he waited for the subway on the Upper East Side, he noticed a man in crisis sit down on the subway platform edge. Detective Warkenthien immediately went over to the man and engaged him in conversation. The man started dangling off the side of the platform and stated he needed his medication while uttering other statements. Realizing the train could come into the station at any moment, Detective Warkenthien pulled the man to safety. As they waited for other first responders to arrive, Detective Warkenthien assured the man he was going to be okay.
10. Police Officers Alexander Malave and 11. Matthew Vitale
Police Officers Malave and Vitale, both assigned to the Housing Bureau's Police Service Area 3, rescued a suicidal Brooklyn man who was in the midst of a mental health crisis as he was sitting on the rooftop ledge of his apartment building. The officers used their crisis communication strategies and team tactics to slow the situation down, and ease the man's worries that he believed he was in trouble, and ultimately were able to rescue him from the roof-top ledge saving his life.
12. Detective Robert Alartosky
Detective Alartosky, while working with other members of the Detective Bureau, rescued a suicidal Manhattan woman. A woman was speaking with her friend on social media when her friend told her she wanted to take her own life. The woman rushed to the 107 Precinct in Queens and asked for the officers to help her friend who was in Manhattan. Detective Alartosky, along with others from the precinct detective squad, sprang into action, and while working with technology experts in the Detective Bureau, they tracked the woman to a hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Detective Alartosky and the others found the suicidal woman who was already in the process of trying to take her life. Due to their quick actions they were able to rescue the woman.
13. Police Officer Andrew Fitzgerald
While returning from a community meeting in Queens, Police Officer Fitzgerald responded to a radio call for a suicidal teenage girl threatening to jump from Cross Island Expressway overpass. Working with a Good Samaritan, Officer Fitzgerald kept his calm and approached the teen by making his way onto the narrow ledge as traffic went by underneath them. After engaging the young woman in dialogue, he was able to convince her to follow him back to safety.
14. Sgt William Hart
While crossing the Manhattan Bridge, Sergeant Hart saved a suicidal teenager. As he approached the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan Bridge, Sgt. Hart was alerted by people that a boy was sitting on the ledge of the bridge. Sgt. Hart quickly approached the teen and engaged him in dialogue. While relying on his previous experiences working in the Emergency Service Unit, Sgt. Hart did not let the dangerous location of the person detract him from approaching the individual. Determined to rescue the young man, Sgt. Hart slowly approached him knowing that because the teen was not responding to him, the situation was reaching a critical point. Sgt. Hart reached out to the teen, who then began engaging the sergeant in communication. The teen followed the commands Sgt. Hart gave him and the two walked back together to safety.
If you are feeling suicidal or in a crisis help is available and you have options. For emergencies, call 911. Options for help include: In New York City, reach out to NYC Well: www.nyc.gov/nycwell, call 1-888 NYC-WELL, text WELL to 651173 Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800.273.TALK (8255) Text TALK to Crisis Text Line at 741741, police officers text BLUE to 741741
Learn about the risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by clicking [HERE]. Learn more about the NYPD's suicide prevention and mental health awareness outreach for the public by clicking [HERE], and for law enforcement nationwide by clicking [HERE].
Increase your knowledge and understanding of mental illnesses and the signs of suicide to help reduce the stigma and learn to how you can help others by getting trained in Mental Health First Aid. Learn more [HERE].