Tracy Brannstrom
MONTPELIER—A community member helped de-escalate a mental health crisis on Montpelier’s Main Street bridge on Aug. 16, staying with a person threatening to jump into the river while police and other responders coordinated from nearby, according to a Montpelier Police Department Facebook post Monday.
The community member stopped at the scene before police arrived and stayed with the individual as the situation unfolded. The individual ultimately walked away from the bridge voluntarily, met with mental health screeners, and agreed to go by ambulance to the hospital for help, according to the police department’s post.
Police said officers recognized that a visible police presence “could potentially change the dynamics of an otherwise calm situation” and positioned themselves nearby without directly approaching. Fire department personnel prepared for a possible water rescue; ambulance and mental health personnel also stood by.
“She remained remarkably calm, stayed with the individual, and maintained contact with responders, providing vital real-time information about their demeanor and changing circumstances,” the police wrote about the resident who stopped to help. “That information helped guide decisions about how, and when, to approach.”
The department’s Facebook post reads: “There are times when a uniform, marked cruiser, lights, sirens, or simply the presence of law enforcement can unintentionally increase someone’s anxiety or distress. Good crisis response isn’t always about being the person closest to the problem. Sometimes it means recognizing who is best positioned to help, giving them space to do so, and remaining nearby if circumstances change.”
