On 04/08/14 at approximately 8:30 pm, officers were dispatched to 33 S. Main St. for a check welfare on a possible suicidal subject. A concerned citizen called to report that a female was on the roof ledge three stories above the ground and was concerned that she may jump.
Officer Justin Popovich first arrived on scene. From the ground, Officer Popovich began talking with the female on the roof ledge. The female told him she was going to jump because the voices in her head were tell her to do so.
Officer Daniel Schoonover arrived on scene and began looking for a way to gain access to the roof. After climbing an outside stairway, he climbed a railing and scaled conduit to gain access to the roof.
Officer Schoonover, wearing a body worn camera, quietly maneuvered towards the female while she was talking to Officer Popovich on the street below. Fearing that the female would jump, he quickly approached the female without her knowing and was safely able to pull her away from the ledge.
The video, posted on the Janesville Police Department YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/pssotgKk-Ig, shows Officer Schoonover approaching the female, rescuing her from the roof ledge and bringing her to safety. The video image and sound have been edited to protect the identity of the female.
The officers’ calm, quick, and decisive actions are credited with saving the female’s life.
Officers contacted Rock County CRISIS Intervention after rescuing the female.
As a reminder, resources are available to those in the community who are in crisis or need access to mental health services by contacting Rock County CRISIS Intervention at (608)757-5025, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Incident Number: JV1417535
Location: 33 S. Main St.
By: Deputy Chief John Olsen
