Two Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Deputies are being credited with saving the life of a suicidal person this past Wednesday.
In a Friday, September 30th release from Sheriff’s Captain Matt Spence and Lieutenant Jim Gottsacker, the incident began on Wednesday when the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office was alerted that a resident of Sheboygan County was in crisis emergency and threatening to jump off the State Highway 144 bridge in the Town of Sherman near Random Lake. When the team arrived, Deputies Becker and LaPean observed the subject standing on the bridge deck, overlooking the railing.
Deputy LaPean engaged the person in conversation from the roadway below the bridge, while Deputy Becker quickly scaled the rough terrain to get to the bridge deck. As Deputy Becker reached the top, the person started to put their leg over the rail. Fearing the person might continue to bring their other leg over, Deputy Becker ran to the person and pulled them off the railing, disregarding his personal safety on State Highway 144.
Deputy Becker, who has three months with the agency, and Deputy LaPean, who’s been with the Sheriff’s Office for 13-1/2 years, were credited for their life-saving efforts, and for providing follow-up care, making sure the person was properly cared for by medical and mental health professionals.
The Sheriff’s release went on to note that while it has an interest in promoting the excellent work of the officers, it was not intended to do so at the expense of Sheboygan County’s citizens and their long-term mental healthcare. As such, neither the name, sex, nor age of the citizen involved. will be released.
