What This Story Is About
- A Clarksville officer was able to stop teen from jumping off an overpass.
Why It Matters
- Officers are trained in suicide prevention. The Clarksville Police Department has answered more than 800 potential suicide related calls this year so far.
- They would like to see more resources devoted to mental health for the officers involved and those suffering from suicidal thoughts.
For Context
- The police chief says they are getting more mental health calls than in years past. This year so far the department has responded to 1,300 mental health calls.
Clarksville, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Clarksville police officer talked a 17-year-old out of jumping from the Meriwether Road overpass last weekend, according to the department.
Officer Grayson Perry, a two-year veteran, was midway through his shift when he responded to a call about a young man preparing to jump. Perry said he immediately recognized the threat was real.
Perry spoke with the teen for nearly 20 minutes. He said his approach was to set aside the appearance of his uniform and safety gear to connect with the teenager on a personal level…