Seattle Police Crisis and Hostage Negotiation team and Washington State Patrol troopers successfully brought a man from potential peril on the Ship Canal Bridge, as SPD Blotter reported. Sgt. David Sullivan, who honed in on the man in crisis beside him, shared, “This is a very professional person; he is at the VP level in his organization,” as Sullivan stressed the nature of mental health stigmas in professional circles.

Sgt. Sullivan's expertise was tantamount to the rescue which unfolded on the bridge deck after a 3:45 p.m. call had Seattle Police join forces with State Patrol to manage the situation, during which multiple lanes were obstructed ensuring responders' focus on the individual. “He’s just suffering from a long-term behavioral health condition that he has hidden because of the stigma. It’s just really sad," Sgt. Sullivan said.

In his conversation with the man, Sgt. Sullivan presented the new King County Crisis Center in Kirkland as a potential resource, a facility he regards as the embodiment of future mental health models. It offers in-patient treatment and crisis stabilization solutions, a contrast to the standard emergency room protocol for such cases, according to Sgt. Sullivan’s acknowledgment of the center's patient-centric focus on behavioral health.

The officer's commitment to his duty is being recognized with a Medal of Honor from the Seattle Police Foundation later this month, adding to his accolades which include his response to an assailant in the Chinatown International District during a two-day outbreak of violence. "Sully did a really good job of building rapport and trust,” Sgt. James Kim, who manages SPD’s Hostage and Negotiation Team, described Sullivan’s rapport-building as critical during the situation, adding, “After he [the man in crisis] climbed over [the guardrail] I gave him a blanket to get warm and we just talked. We talked about our kids; this was somebody I could talk to. It’s hard."

Compassion marked the collective response from all teams involved with the Washington Department of Transportation providing the necessary blockade, and State Patrol Capt. Ron Mead sent out an email to SPD, acknowledging that life was indeed saved, and praised the spirit of partnership between WSP and SPD that led to such positive outcomes. For those seeking help in moments of personal crisis, assistance can be accessed by calling the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.