NYPD bodycam captures Brooklyn Bridge rescue of woman in crisis
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Dramatic body camera video shows the moment New York City police officers rescued a woman perched atop the steel cables of the Brooklyn Bridge over the East River on Wednesday.
The NYPD said its Emergency Services Unit responded to the bridge around 7:38 p.m. for a report of a person in distress.
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An NYPD Emergency Services Unit officer reaches a woman perched on the steel cables of the Brooklyn Bridge before pulling her to safety. (NYPD)
In the newly released video, police officers are seen climbing the bridge to reach the woman whose feet were dangling from the edge of one of the bridge’s steel cables.
“I just want to talk,” one of the officers told the woman. “What’s going on today?”
The officer continued talking to the woman and urged her to accept help.
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NYPD Emergency Services Unit officers climbed the Brooklyn Bridge to rescue a woman after nearly an hour of negotiations, police said. (NYPD)
“I want to help you, that’s why I’m here right now,” the officer said. “I really care, I really care. This is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It really is. I don’t know what you’re going through, but I want to understand. We have services we can deliver to you.”
“The most powerful thing you can do right now is to accept help, I promise you,” he continued. “This is the most powerful thing you can do.”
As the woman stood on the cable, holding on to another support cable with one arm, an officer got close enough to wrap his arms around her and pull her to safety.
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Body camera footage shows NYPD officers rescuing a woman from the top of the Brooklyn Bridge’s steel cables. (NYPD)
“Don’t do it. Don’t do it, please. Please, please,” the officer said. “I got you. You’re okay, I promise. I got you, I promise. Everything will be okay. You’re not in trouble.”
Police said officers spoke with the woman for about an hour before getting her safely off the bridge.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch shared the body camera video on social media and praised the responding officers.
“This video of last night’s rescue effort on the Brooklyn Bridge will take your breath away,” Tisch wrote.
Body camera video shows an NYPD officer talking to a woman in crisis atop the Brooklyn Bridge before rescuing her. (NYPD)
“Upstream on the East River, NYPD ESU officers climbed the Brooklyn Bridge to reach a woman who was in crisis and threatening to jump,” he continued. “They stayed with him for nearly an hour, talking to him and waiting for the moment when they could safely pull him back from the edge. The care, courage and compassion shown by these officers was extraordinary. God bless them.”
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The rescue effort occurred during rush hour, causing all eastbound lanes of the bridge to be closed for several hours, officials said.
