Responding to mental health calls is now all too common in policing. In a recent 19-month period, our officers apprehended 1,753 people under the Mental Health Act. But thanks to our great partnerships with Ontario Shores, Durham Mental Health Services and other community resources, we have specialized training for officers to help them manage these unique calls.
On a cold, dark Saturday night in January, officers were called to a residence in Clarington for a suicidal male. They arrived to find him high atop a swinging television antenna, 16 metres above the ground. D/Csts. Paul Couvillon and Keith Lindley climbed onto the rooftop to negotiate with the man, who said he was going to hang himself. The male was big and very strong – a Mixed Martial Arts competitor who was distraught about his life.
Not only were the three men at a great height, the cold wind was making the antennae sway. When the man made his attempt to hang himself, the two officers scrambled up the tower, with D/Cst. Couvillon using his shoulders to support the man’s weight as D/Cst. Lindley cut him loose. They secured the male and made the arduous journey down the antennae. Once on the rooftop and still at a dangerous height, the male became combative. A conducted energy weapon was deployed to prevent further injury.
D/Cst. Ed Downey, a rappel instructor, had responded to the call as well and was the only person on scene who was qualified in rigging the “Stokes Basket” provided by the fire department to lower the male safely from the rooftop and onto the ground. Without his training and knowledge, this would not have been possible.
Working as team, these officers showed a great deal of strength and courage as they saved this man’s life, all the while risking their own. Excellent Team Work!
