Sometimes when you think a story is complete, it can turn out that it’s far from the truth as is the case for this story that Lower Bucks Source published Friday afternoon about a woman in crisis rescued on the Trenton Makes Bridge from self-harm.
Soon after she was rescued and taken to an area medical facility, LBS received two videos from separate individuals, one of which was a live feed coming from the Meta Page of Tammy Wright, of Trenton. Both senders said in message exchanges they thought the just over 12-minute segment could be a triggering for the community at-large. The publication agreed but held on to the live feed clips posted on Wright’s personal page.
As a community-based media organization, sensationalizing behavioral health crisis live or in process is not a principle LBS operates from especially when it comes to self-harm related first responder involved calls.
What we do profusely support and cover are “saves” as they are often described.
Morrisville Boroughs’ Chief of Police Rich Ciampa did just that on Monday with a press release titled “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” in describing Wright’s efforts on the bridge Friday afternoon.
“…Tammy, a passerby who had already sprung into action. Armed with only a remarkable human spirit and willingness to put others before herself, Tammy had already engaged the troubled woman in a dialogue. It soon became apparent that the woman teetering on the bridges’ railing showed some trust in Tammy. After an intense standoff, it was ultimately Tammy who convinced the woman to release her weapon,” Ciampa said.
Shortly after giving up the knife, Morrisville Borough Police officer Joe Parell (pictured left) with Amanda DeLuca, and Matt Leonhauser, (not pictured) grabbed the woman and pulled her back over the railing to safety, with Tammy assisting the entire way, Ciampa said.
“I would like to commend all the officers on the bridge Friday afternoon and especially recognize Tammy for being a true community hero,” said Ciampa.
No cape needed. No “super” powers required. Just the human ability to connect with another at a time in dire circumstances. That’s how lives get saved in these situations, experts say.
For three consecutive months running the publication has covered “saves” in the Lower Bucks area. The first story, published in August, focused on two Lower Bucks Hospital security officers saving a man’s life in a hospital bathroom. A second story covered the heroic life saving efforts of a teen by Bristol Borough Police officers and a still as yet unidentified boater.
Note: Publisher/Editor Jeff Bohen worked providing behavioral health and substance services to adults for 20 years in New York City, Bucks County, PA, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Camden, New Jersey before changing career paths. He is a person living in recovery from mental health issues and seeks to change long held myths and stigma about persons living with challenges.
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