POUGHKEEPSIE – City police in Poughkeepsie used their advanced training to prevent a man from committing suicide on Tuesday evening. Police responded to a call for help from a family member of the subject at about 6:30 p.m.
The relative called City 911 to report that the man had been making suicidal threats and asked officers to perform a welfare check. Officers responded to the man’s home and made entry trying to locate him. Once inside, officers located a suicide note along with multiple rifles and handguns but the man was not present.
Officers collected the weapons for safekeeping and arranged to “ping” the subject’s cell phone to determine the location. As a result of the “ping,” the man’s vehicle was located unoccupied on Jefferson Street.
Multiple units were dispatched to the area and the suicidal man was located by officers on the Mid-Hudson Bridge approach. Utilizing their Crisis Intervention Training, officers began a dialogue with the man and eventually convinced him to allow them to transport him to MidHudson Regional Hospital for treatment by mental health professionals.
Once at the hospital, officers assisted with the intake process before turning the man over to the care of hospital staff. Officers were assisted with this investigation by members of Mental Health America of Dutchess County.
Police officials say that the crisis training saved the man’s life on Tuesday. They also noted that people who know of someone in crisis can contact the HELPLINE at 845-485-9700.
