Forney, Texas – Forney Police Officers Sandra Rankin and Shane Ball were presented life saving awards for their actions on Thursday, December 19, 2013, in preventing a suicidal teen from jumping from the Pinson Road bridge to the highway below.
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The officers were presented the life saving awards at the Forney City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, by Forney Police Department Police Chief Rick Barnes.
“There is no doubt that Officer Rankin and Officer Ball saved her life,” said Chief Barnes. “Both officer's heroic actions stopped the subject from taking her life that day and for that they are being recognized for going above and beyond their duties.”
As reported by inForney.com at the time, police were made aware of the juvenile female after several people called 9-1-1 about a juvenile smoking on the bridge. When Officer Rankin arrived, the female climbed onto the bridge rail with one leg over the side of the bridge. According to Barnes, Officer Rankin talked the female off the edge of the bridge but she stated she intended to kill herself.
Officer Ball arrived a short time later to assist Officer Rankin. As they were talking to the female, she unexpectedly jumped back on top of the bridge rail and both officers rushed the female to grab her and pull her back to safety.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2013, on the northbound lane of the Pinson Road bridge spanning U.S. Highway 80 where there is no pedestrian path or protective fence. The female was taken into custody and later evaluated due to her possible suicidal actions, said Detective Clay with the Forney Police Department at the time of the incident.
“There is no doubt that Officer Rankin and Officer Ball saved her life,” said Chief Barnes. “Both officer's heroic actions stopped the subject from taking her life that day and for that they are being recognized for going above and beyond their duties.”
As reported by inForney.com at the time, police were made aware of the juvenile female after several people called 9-1-1 about a juvenile smoking on the bridge. When Officer Rankin arrived, the female climbed onto the bridge rail with one leg over the side of the bridge. According to Barnes, Officer Rankin talked the female off the edge of the bridge but she stated she intended to kill herself.
Officer Ball arrived a short time later to assist Officer Rankin. As they were talking to the female, she unexpectedly jumped back on top of the bridge rail and both officers rushed the female to grab her and pull her back to safety.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2013, on the northbound lane of the Pinson Road bridge spanning U.S. Highway 80 where there is no pedestrian path or protective fence. The female was taken into custody and later evaluated due to her possible suicidal actions, said Detective Clay with the Forney Police Department at the time of the incident.