HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Two officers of the Hutchinson Police Department will be awarded the life saving award in the near future for their actions that saved a person’s life. The life saving award is the fourth highest award awarded to officers in the Hutchinson Police Department.
On July 26, a concerned citizen observed a female at a bridge acting very distraught. Officers of the Hutchinson Police Department were dispatched, Ofc. Bobby Jarmer was the first to arrive, he found the distraught woman hanging off the side of the bridge, with her elbows over the railing, which was the only thing keeping her from falling.
The bridge was high enough that if she fell it would cause great bodily harm and more than likely, death. Ofc. Jarmer talked to the female in a calm and reassuring voice, but the woman did not respond to him. Ofc. Todd Allen was the next to arrive. Both he and Ofc. Jarmer quickly and quietly devised a plan to save the woman.
She closed her eyes, which she later told officers that her intentions were to let go and harm herself. The officers seized the moment when she closed her eyes and quickly closed the distance, grabbing her, pulling her over the rail to safety. The officers acted very quickly with no regard to their own safety.
The Hutchinson Police Department was called Friday morning by the son of the concerned citizen who called 911 to report the woman hanging from the bridge. The caller expressed concern that his father should also be recognized for his actions as well. The concerned citizen who called 911 to report the woman hanging from the bridge is Kirby Kerschner.
Police Department officials say they appreciate the willingness of our citizens to report items of concern as was done in this situation.