WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has selected
Officers Candace Bisagna and
Brandi Madrid, of the Albuquerque (NM) Police Department, as the
recipients of its Officer of the Month Award for October 2016.
Located in the nation's capital, the National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement
officers. The Memorial Fund's Officer of the Month Award Program
began in 1996 and recognizes federal, state, and local officers who
distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service
and devotion to duty.
Officers Candace Bisagna and
Brandi Madrid, along with the other
Officer of the Month Award recipients for 2016, will be honored
during National Police Week at a special awards ceremony in
Washington, DC, in May 2017.
STORY DETAILS
- On May 29, 2016, a man climbed
over a security fence on an overpass over I-40 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After he threatened
to jump, the police were called to assist, but he refused to speak
with the male officers who arrived first. Officer Brandi Madrid arrived at the scene next; this
was her first experience in a situation like this.
- "I started to build that rapport with him," Officer Madrid
said. "He just seemed like he had a lot he was holding within. He
seemed to be very upset so for most of that time, I really just
listened."
- Officer Candace Bisagna
volunteered to help with the call because of her experience helping
distressed individuals who were at risk of suicide. Upon arriving
at the scene, she recognized the man as someone she had talked off
a bridge just one month earlier.
- The officers used their Crisis Intervention Training to gain
the man's trust, but then, angry drivers below began shouting for
him to jump. Their shouts distressed the man again and the officers
had to work to calm him down again.
- "For us, that's frustrating because [the shouts were]
amplifying his emotions," Officer Bisagna said. "We'd make a little
bit of headway, and someone would yell that, and we'd have to go
back and build it back up. Finally they blocked off the exits from
where we were so no one could yell at him, and it was a lot more
helpful. But the whole time, you're just kind of praying he doesn't
jump."
- After three hours in the sweltering heat, Officers Bisagna and
Madrid were able to talk the man back over the fence, and he
peacefully surrendered. The Crisis Intervention Team was told to
keep a closer eye on the man and get him the medical attention he
needed.
- "We are required to take what's called a Crisis Intervention
Team Course where they set up scenarios, such as people who are on
the edge of a bridge or are feeling like hurting themselves,"
Officer Madrid said. "They give you the tools to successfully make
a good outcome of it. Because of that, I was able to use those
tools for that incident, and it really paid off."
- "I think all of the training we're provided helped us be
successful," added Officer Bisagna.
- Just two days later, Officer Madrid helped save the life of a
female who attempted to jump off another bridge in the city.
SUPPORTING QUOTES
- "Officer Bisagna and Officer Madrid expertly displayed their
dedication and commitment to serving the citizens of Albuquerque with this outstanding example of
service," said Sgt. Ric Ingram, of
the Albuquerque Police
Department.
- "Officers Candace Bisagna and
Brandi Madrid are a prime example of
how crisis prevention training is important for all law
enforcement," Memorial Fund President and CEO Craig W. Floyd said. "The devotion they showed
in those extreme circumstances is honorable and deserving of the
October 2016 Officer of the Month
Award."
For more information about the National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial Fund's Officer of the Month Award, visit
www.LawMemorial.org/OTM.
About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to
telling the story of American law enforcement and making it safer
for those who serve. The Memorial Fund built and now operates and
maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in
Washington, DC, which contains the
names of 20,789 officers who have died in the line of duty
throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now building the
National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of
American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive
exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational
programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Jaclyn Barrientes
jbarrientes@nleomf.org | (202) 737-7989
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SOURCE National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund