Mayor Recognizes Open Space Officers for Saving Suicidal Man From Rushing Waters

July 9, 2010

Mayor Richard J. Berry recognized three Albuquerque police officers Friday who risked there own safety to save a man from drowning.

Officers Pat Smith, Mark Dietz and Jason Harvey are this week’s Friday’s Heroes. Each week Mayor Berry recognizes at least one public safety employee who goes above the call of duty.

“Within minutes these officers found a missing man and performed a water rescue,” Mayor Berry said. “They risked their own lives to save a citizen of our community.”

On June 30, a woman had approached officers from APD’s Open Space Division while they were preparing to conduct a fire patrol along the Bosque in the Alameda parking lot. The woman told the officers that her brother, who was threatening suicide, had gone missing. The brother was a retired school teacher who was suffering from disorientation related to a stroke, and was under medical care. He was on his bicycle in the Bosque when he went missing.

The officers put together a search and rescue team and established the search perimeter. . Moments later, they located the man in ditch water rapidly moving down the irrigation ditch. They could see the man purposefully submerging himself under the water for long periods of time in an attempt to kill himself.

Additional open space officers and Bernalillo County Fire Department arrived on scene and were preparing to execute a water rescue at the Paseo del Norte. The underpass had fast moving waters and would be fatal if anyone would attempt to go under it.

Officer Mark Dietz was able to talk to the man and delay him just enough for the proper water rescue equipment to be put in place.

When negotiations failed, the man dove toward the Paseo del Norte passage entrance. Officer Smith dove into the water, executing a dive team rescue maneuver, and guided the man safely through the passage. Officer Dietz directed fire personnel to the correct position and along with Officer Harvey safely extracted the man and Officer Smith from the water.

“In my 17 years of law enforcement, I have never seen a more brave and selfless act executed with such skill and precision,” said Lieutenant Jay Gilhooly, who commands the Open Space Division.