WAUSAU — Police have posted body cam footage captured when a group of officers rescued a distraught man from the Wisconsin River.
According to a Wausau Police Department Facebook post, officers were called for a report of a man walking through yards and eventually walking north along the banks of the Wisconsin River. Police say the man was suicidal and acting erratically, and at one point went into the river to his midsection before climbing out.
In the video, the man’s face has been blurred to avoid identifying him to the public.
The man threatened to jump into the river again if officers came near. With the air temperature under 40 degrees, getting the man into a warm environment was imperative, police said.
“The best part about being a police officer is every day we have the opportunity to have positive impact in the lives of others in our community,” a Department Facebook post states. “Of course, this isn’t to say that being a police officer is easy. Sometimes people don’t want us involved in their lives. Sometimes officers encounter very difficult circumstances and they find themselves having to problem solve quickly, work together as a team, use patience and find courage to bring a positive resolution to an incident.”
Patrol officers and supervisors worked together to communicate with the man and simultaneously get Wausau Fire on standby for prompt medical attention. Wausau Fire also dispatched their airboat, which helped get this man to medical attention quickly.
“As a result of excellent execution on the part of these officers, a man in crisis is currently receiving the health care he needs,” the post states.”We are very proud of the efforts of the first responders who worked together to bring a positive resolution in this case. Our best wishes are extended to this man and his family.”
