COLUMBUS, OH (WSYX/CNN) - Columbus police officers are being called heroes for saving a teen from jumping off a bridge last month.
The department released body cam footage of the incident.
"I thought she was gone,” said Kenneth Kropp. “Honestly, I thought she was so close."
Kropp only knew two things as he raced toward Greenlawn Bridge the night of March 20.
His target was a 17-year-old, and she was ready to jump.
"And then we saw, I believe, just her head and we could tell right away it was on the other side of the bridge, which was a bad sign," Kropp said.
Kropp reached out to help and fellow officer Anthony Sebastiano was also on scene.
“Thankfully we had four officers there,” Sebastiano said. “We were able to get enough leverage to get her back over the railing.”
Hannah Thompson of North Central Mental Health Services said the video is proof that whether it’s a voicemail on a hotline or a cop on the street, there’s always someone who cares.
"It shows me they care about their community," said Thompson who is a suicide prevention officer.
“The police were there to get her to safety,” Thompson said. “It's really nice to be reminded that these are things that they're doing every day.”
The situation was personal for both officers.
"I took this job to help people, and that was obviously a great opportunity to help someone that was in need," Sebastiano said.
"When I'm heading to a run, regardless of what it is, I always think that's my brother, my sister, father,” Kropp said. “It's somebody. What if it was my child, you know?"
The national hotline to call if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide is 1-800-273-8255.
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