Two officers braved freezing water February 8, 2022 to rescue a woman who attempted to end her life by jumping off the Forest River Bridge. Around 5:15 p.m. officers were dispatched to the bridge after multiple callers reported seeing a woman dangling herself over the bridge and then dropping into the water. Officers, EMS, firefighters and even residents searched the area in an attempt to find her.

Finally an officer heard gurgling under a floating dock they were standing on. Multiple attempts to pull the woman up were unsuccessful and the dock, under the weight of all the emergency responders, was starting to sink. Realizing the issues and that time was of the essence, Officer William Fitzpatrick jumped into the water and swam over to provide assistance. Soon after Sgt. Sharif Lockett, who had been working an extra duty assignment at the mall but had come over to assist, noticed that Fitzpatrick was struggling to help the woman on his own and had gone under water more than once. He immediately jumped in to assist.

The current was fast. It was freezing and full of sticks and other debris, making it difficult to move effectively. After a bit of a struggle, they were able to get the woman safely to the dock, just in time for EMS to provide assistance. The cold water had taken a toll on the woman’s body and she immediately started having a seizure. However, they were able to save the woman's life.

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