ERVING — Three Erving police officers and a mental health clinician with Clinical & Support Options (CSO) have been formally commended for their lifesaving actions in two different incidents involving suicidal individuals at the French King Bridge.

Two letters from Erving Police Sgt. Adam Paicos were shared with the Selectboard on Monday regarding incidents on Nov. 14, 2024 and Dec. 23, 2024. Each letter was read aloud by members of the Selectboard, with Chair Jacob Smith reading the December letter, and member James Loynd reading the November letter. The Selectboard authorized each commendation to be placed in the officers’ personnel files.

CSO’s co-response team has created a model by which mental health clinicians respond alongside police officers to certain emergency situations. In November, CSO clinician Jessica Brooks responded alongside Erving Officer Brandon Bryant to a report from a husband who said his wife intended to jump off the French King Bridge. She was located using the “Find My Phone” app.

Bryant and Brooks responded to the bridge and found the woman in her vehicle. Both first responders spoke to the woman, but she began experiencing an unspecified medical emergency that prompted Brooks to get her to emergency care. Notably, Brooks was off-duty when the call came in, but responded with Bryant anyway.

“Their timely response, keen observations and ability to identify not only the individual’s mental health crisis but also her sudden medical emergency reflect the highest standards of our department,” Paicos’ letter reads.

A little more than a month later, Erving Police Officers Brandon Garvey and Mitchell Waldron were called to the French King Bridge on Dec. 23 for a distraught person on the sidewalk. Northampton Police had been looking for this individual already, based on a report from a friend stating the individual intended to harm herself.

“Through their compassionate and skilled communication, the officers determined that the individual had recently experienced significant personal trauma and was on the bridge with the intent of ending their life,” the letter states. The officers spoke to this individual, got her into their cruiser and transported her to appropriate services for further care. “Their actions exemplify the highest standards of our department and reflect the training and experience we value in our officers, who too often face calls of this nature.”

After reading the first letter, Smith offered his thanks to the department.

“I thank them every day for all their work, and especially days like this,” Smith said.

Similarly, Loynd, himself a former police officer, offered his appreciation. A copy of the commendation for Brooks was approved to be sent to CSO for their personnel records.

In a follow-up interview Tuesday afternoon, Paicos explained that the commendations are a chance to recognize the officers’ work, as well as recognize mental health challenges as something the community struggles with. Having the commendations go into a permanent personnel record allows the department access to examples of good work by officers, and can showcase instances to their superiors where officers go “above and beyond” in their line of work.

“It shows they are capable within their positions,” Paicos added.

Barriers working

Since the barriers at the French King Bridge between Gill and Erving were installed in August 2023, there have been no calls for rescue or recovery in the Connecticut River for people suspected of jumping from the bridge.

Prior to the barriers being installed, Erving, Gill and other local fire and police departments would frequently respond to reports of people jumping over the 3-foot railing. In September, Erving Police Chief Robert Holst and Erving Fire Chief Philip Wonkka said the barriers are working to help prevent suicides. Wonkka reported that before the barriers were installed, 10 to 15 calls a month would come to his department seeking crews to respond to the bridge.

Bridge barriers are an effective method of suicide prevention, according to a 2024 National Institute of Health (NIH) study.

“The literature contains overwhelming evidence to show that physical barriers are highly effective at reducing suicides by jumping,” the NIH study reads. “While some studies found indications of method or location substitution, these were typically short-lived and still resulted in a net overall reduction in suicides by jumping. However, the large majority of studies did not find any evidence for measurable substitution of place or method.”

The study notes that suicides by jumping involve a “component of impulsivity since it does not require complex planning,” meaning barriers can be an effective deterrent.

“Individuals rescued after an unsuccessful suicide attempt from a high-risk bridge in San Francisco, USA, stated that they were grateful that the acute moment of crisis during which they were determined to jump had passed and they were saved,” the NIH study reads. “Some regretted the attempt and a large majority did not wish to try again.”

The effectiveness of the barriers is something Paicos pointed out as well, saying there has been a significant decrease in calls to the bridge for mental health-related emergencies. He added that the barriers allow first responders time to arrive and help those in crisis.

“The barriers are doing their job,” Paicos said.

A copy of the commendation letters is available within the Feb. 3 Selectboard meeting materials at erving-ma.gov/administration-select-board/agenda/select-board-agenda-128.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.