Hero IN Blue: Elmwood Park Police Officer Stops Boy, 15, From Suicide Jump

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. -- An Elmwood Park police officer grabbed a 15-year-old boy intent on killing himself as he scaled a fence on a bridge above busy Route 20.

Elmwood Park Police Department
Photo Credit: *Rebecca Abma*

Jerry DeMarco

03/01/2018 10:47 a.m.

Respoding to several calls from witnesses who saw the boy climb the fence on the Broadway bridge's east side Wednesday afternoon, Officer Keith Hartmann snatched the boy and pulled him down from the fence, Police Chief Michael Foligno said.

The boy "was determined to kill himself and asked Hartmann to shoot him with his service weapon," Foligno said.

The officer held him down until backups arrived.

Paterson police responded a short time later and took him into custody.

Hartmann "did an outstanding job under a stressful circumstance and should be recognized for his actions," Foligno said.

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