A Indiana State Police trooper talked a woman out of jumping off of a bridge in Kokomo last week.
Officials said that Trooper Joe Swisher was crossing the Wayne Street Bridge Thursday around 4 p.m. when he spotted a 21-year-old woman who had climbed over the railing and appeared to be preparing to jump into the Wabash River approximately 30 feet below, according to WRTV.
After the trooper exited his vehicle, he began talking to the woman. Over the course of a 15-minute conversation, officials said that Swisher managed to convince the "very despondent" woman not to jump.
The woman told the trooper that she did not believe anyone cared about her. Swisher told the woman he cared about her and extended his hand to the woman. As she took his hand, he grabbed her arm and assisted her from the ledge of the bridge.
The woman climbed over the railing and hugged the relieved trooper.
As Swisher spoke to the woman, officers from the Peru Police Department blocked traffic from entering both ends of the bridge.
The woman was transported to Dukes Memorial Hospital for a medical check after which she was transferred to the Four County Counseling Center in Logansport.
The 21-year veteran stayed with the woman for several hours after the encounter because he "wanted her to know he did care about what happened to her."
