{"id":9594,"date":"2023-02-17T01:09:07","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T06:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=9594"},"modified":"2023-03-16T14:52:54","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T18:52:54","slug":"memphis-police-officer-praised-for-helping-suicidal-teen-father","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2023\/02\/memphis-police-officer-praised-for-helping-suicidal-teen-father.html","title":{"rendered":"Memphis Police Officer Praised For Helping Suicidal Teen Father"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Memphis Police Department\/Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Memphis police officer is receiving praise from the public after convincing a suicidal teenage father not to jump from the I-40 Mississippi River Bridge earlier this month. According to a statement from the Memphis Police Department posted on Facebook, officers received a call about a suicidal person on the edge of the bridge and quickly responded to discover the flustered 17-year-old.<\/p>\n

The statement reads, \u201cOfficer Shaw made [it to] the scene moments later and began building a rapport with the individual as he stood on the outside ledge of the bridge contemplating suicide. While the officers were talking to him, they found out that this individual was only 17 years old.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MPD statement adds, \u201cHe explained how he is a new father and how life is stressful. Being a mother, Officer Shaw talked to him and understood his stress. Officer Shaw spoke to him for nearly 15 minutes and convinced him to hold on to her while she helped him to safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

One piece of advice that Officer Shaw gave the teen dad was, \u201cthings will get better.\u201d The teen\u2019s rescue happened the day before Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced that the Department of Justice would review the MPD after the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols. Nichols, a black man, died days after five MPD officers beat him during a January traffic stop. Mayor Strickland said, \u201cWhile we no doubt have a long way to go on the road to healing, hopefully, through our actions, citizens will see we are working toward a better future and heading down the right path.\u201d<\/p>\n

The photo of Officer Shaw hugging the teen has gone viral with thousands of reactions and shares. One comment said, \u201cI\u2019m so glad we see these positive stories for our officers. What a great job done by Officer Shaw! Not all are bad; keep sharing the good too!\u201d<\/p>\n