INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers risk their own lives to save the life of suicidal man.
Just after 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the 8700 block of Carver Drive reference, a suicidal person. When officers arrived, officers could see inside the vehicle a male holding a gun to his head. The male was the only occupant of the vehicle and was threatening to kill himself. Officers tried to establish communication with the man, but they were unsuccessful as the man rolled up the vehicle’s windows. Officers then requested the assistance of personnel from IMPD’s Crisis Negotiation Team. As officers continued to try and establish a dialog with the man, he suddenly exited the vehicle while still armed with the gun. One officer attempting to disarm the man used his department-issued Taser. The Taser probes made contact with the man, and It was at this time that a shot was fired from the man’s weapon striking the officer in the lower leg. Officers quickly applied an Israeli tourniquet to the injured officer until EMS personnel arrived, and also moved in to secure the suicidal man without further incident. The officer was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in good condition.
The injured officer has been identified as Patrolman Donald Neal an 8-year-veteran of IMPD currently assigned to the Southeast District Middle Shift. The officer will have to undergo surgery but is expected to make a full recovery. The suicidal person is being interviewed by investigators and is expected to receive social service treatment.
This is another example of the selfless acts of officers in saving the life of a suicidal man while risking their own lives. IMPD reminds anyone, or if you know someone, who may be suffering from thoughts of suicide, please get help by calling 2-1-1 the Connect2Help Hotline 24hrs a day.
