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Louisville police officer credited with stopping man from jumping off bridge

Louisville police officer credited with stopping man from jumping off bridge
CONSIDERING THE CASE AGAINST STEPHENS AND LMPD OFFICER USED HIS EXPERIENCE AS A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER TO BOND WITH A MAN AND CONVINCE HIM TO NOT TAKE HIS OWN LIFE. I’M A LOUISVILLE FIREFIGHTER, I RETIRED, I CAME OVER TO THE POLICE SIDE, BROTHER, WE GOT YOUR FAMILY THERE. YOUR FRIENDS ARE CALLING. THEY’RE WORRIED ABOUT YOU. ON OCTOBER 9TH, OFFICER OLLIE THOMAS RESPONDED TO A CALL OF A MAN WHO WAS CONTEMPLATING JUMPING OFF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL BRIDGE. THE RETIRED FIREFIGHTER TURNED OFFICER SAW THE MAN WAS WEARING A FIREFIGHTER SHIRT AND MADE A CONNECTION. EVENTUALLY, THE MAN CLIMBED BACK OVER THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE TO SAFETY. IT’S REAL EMOTIONAL JUST TALKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL IN MY VOICE, BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I WAS DOWN IN THE WATER. SO LIKE IF THEY WAS TO JUMP, I WOULD BE PART OF THAT RESCUE. BUT NOW, YOU KNOW, BEING A POLICEMAN, I’M AT THE TOP. SO I GET TO SEE A DIFFERENT SIDE. I GET TO BUILD A BOND, TALK TO THEM. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST DIDN’T WANT LITTLE BUDDY TO JUMP. SO THAT’S ALL I WAS THINKING. AND THAT FOR A SPLIT SECOND I WAS GOING TO TELL HIM. I WAS LIKE, IF YOU GO, I’M COMING RIGHT BEHIND YOU, I’M GOING TO GET YOU, BUDDY. SO DON’T DO IT. OFFICER OLLIE JOINED LMPD IN 2021
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Louisville police officer credited with stopping man from jumping off bridge
A police officer in Louisville, Kentucky, is being praised for using his experience as a firefighter to convince a man not to take his life."I'm a Louisville firefighter, I'm retired I came over to the police side brother, we got your family, friends they are calling they are worried about you," said Louisville Metro Police Department Officer Ali Thomas in body cam footage from the scene.Thomas responded to the Lincoln Memorial Bridge on Oct. 9 about a man contemplating taking his own life.The retired firefighter turned police officer saw the man was wearing a firefighter shirt and made a connection.Eventually, the man climbed back over the side of the bridge to safety."It's real emotional just talking about it right now. You can probably tell my voice, but when I was on the fire department, I was down in the water. So, like, if there was a jump, I would be part of that rescue," Thomas said. "But now, you know, being a policeman, I'm at the top. So, I get to see a different side. I get to build a bond, talk to them, and, you know, I just didn't want anybody to jump. So that's all I was thinking. And that, for a split second, I was. And I was gonna tell him, I was like, if you go, I'm coming right behind you. I'm going to get you, buddy. So don't do it."Thomas joined LMPD in 2021, shortly after retiring from the Louisville Fire Department.

A police officer in Louisville, Kentucky, is being praised for using his experience as a firefighter to convince a man not to take his life.

"I'm a Louisville firefighter, I'm retired I came over to the police side brother, we got your family, friends they are calling they are worried about you," said Louisville Metro Police Department Officer Ali Thomas in body cam footage from the scene.

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Thomas responded to the Lincoln Memorial Bridge on Oct. 9 about a man contemplating taking his own life.

The retired firefighter turned police officer saw the man was wearing a firefighter shirt and made a connection.

Eventually, the man climbed back over the side of the bridge to safety.

"It's real emotional just talking about it right now. You can probably tell my voice, but when I was on the fire department, I was down in the water. So, like, if there was a jump, I would be part of that rescue," Thomas said. "But now, you know, being a policeman, I'm at the top. So, I get to see a different side. I get to build a bond, talk to them, and, you know, I just didn't want anybody to jump. So that's all I was thinking. And that, for a split second, I was. And I was gonna tell him, I was like, if you go, I'm coming right behind you. I'm going to get you, buddy. So don't do it."

Thomas joined LMPD in 2021, shortly after retiring from the Louisville Fire Department.