Columbus City Council on Tuesday turned its spotlight on a city water and power employee who, officials say, helped pull a young girl back from the brink and stayed with her until first responders arrived. Council members called the actions life saving and presented Charles Coleman, of the city's Department of Water and Power, with a public recognition captured in photographs the council later shared.
Council Shares Photos And Thanks Coleman
In a March 23 post on the Columbus City Council Facebook page, council members shared photos from the recognition and publicly thanked Coleman for what they described as "quick thinking, care and commitment to the community." The post says Coleman prevented a young girl from taking her own life and stayed by her side until first responders reached the scene, according to the Columbus City Council Facebook post.
Coleman's Role And The City's Utility
The council's post identifies Coleman as an employee of Columbus Water & Power, the city division that provides water, sewer and power services. The division's website outlines those responsibilities and lists its downtown customer office at 111 N. Front Street, Columbus, according to Columbus Water & Power. It is the kind of behind the scenes municipal job that usually stays out of the headlines, which is part of why council members said they wanted to call out Coleman's actions.
Where To Turn In A Crisis
State and local officials continue to direct anyone in immediate crisis to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is administered in Ohio by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Local directories also list a Columbus suicide prevention line at 614-221-5445 and neighborhood counseling resources, with statewide guidance available from OhioMHAS and local listings collected by CAP4Kids.
Council members said they were grateful for Coleman's actions and used the ceremony to underscore the human side of city work. "We thank Charles Coleman for his quick thinking, care and commitment to the community," the post reads. The photos and message serve as a reminder that neighbors and city staffers are often the first to step in when trouble hits. The full recognition post is available from Columbus City Council.
