On June 7, Communications Officer Natasha Beard received a call from a man threatening suicide. He spoke to her in detail about a disturbing domestic situation that his family was going through.
Just a week prior to receiving this call, Natasha had attended an eight-hour CIT course to train personnel in ways to assist citizens in crisis. Natasha quickly put this training, along with her five years of experience at the Division of Emergency Communications, to work.
After threatening suicide, the man hung up. Natasha notified the appropriate radio channel operator and supervisors of the situation and then quickly called the man back. He told her he was going to stab himself and then hung up again. In the meantime, Natasha had officers, Richmond Behavioral Health and a negotiator en route to the man’s home.
Each time the distraught man hung up on Natasha, she called him back. She also managed to get information from him that he had befriended a Fourth Precinct officer. Natasha had another communications officer track down the police officer and get the officer to a phone. This led to a conference call between Natasha, the man and the officer. By that time, the officers, mental health professionals and negotiators were outside the home. Natasha and the officer persuaded the man to exit his residence and surrender to officers, averting a tragic situation.
Congratulations as our Communications Officer of the Month for June, Natasha!
Previous Communication Officers of the Month
