VicPD officer intervenes in suicide attempt after leaving hospital

A VicPD police officer who was injured during a call saved a woman’s life after getting out of the hospital.

According to the department, the officer had responded to a person in crisis on Wednesday morning, during which he was punched several times.

Officers attended a motel in the 100-block of Gorge Road East after a man called police, threatened to kill people, and advised that “a deceased person was on his balcony.”

“Attending officers recognized the man was in the midst of a mental health crisis and moved to apprehend him under the Mental Health Act after attempts to de-escalate him using crisis intervention techniques were unsuccessful,” VicPD said.

Police deployed a conductive energy weapon, but it was reportedly unsuccessful.

Several additional units attended and apprehended the man. He was transported to hospital for a mental health assessment.

The officer was transported to hospital, where he was treated for a concussion and released.

The officer was unable to complete his shift due his injuries, but as he was leaving the hospital with a uniformed officer in a marked VicPD vehicle to be returned to headquarters, they observed a woman in crisis on the Helmcken Road overpass.

Recognizing the immediate, life-threatening danger, the officers stopped and began to speak with the woman.

While the two officers spoke with the woman, additional officers from West Shore RCMP and Saanich Police, as well as additional VicPD officers, attended.

When the woman in crisis moved to harm herself, the officers intervened and physically pulled her away from danger.

She was taken into custody under the Mental Health Act by West Shore RCMP officers, and transported to hospital.

The injured officer is now recovering at home.