Caltrans Equipment Operator II

Department of Transportation

6/18/2008

Special Service Award (Silver)

On June 18, 2008, at approximately 3:30 a.m., California Department of Transportation employees Shawn Daniel Hussey and Alan L. Companey responded to a call about a vehicle that had stopped on the Bay Bridge in a westbound lane just east of Treasure Island. Upon arrival, Mr. Hussey saw the car was empty and found a suicidal man had climbed over the bridge railing and was standing on a girder approximately 225 feet above the bay with a bag of rocks tied to one wrist. Mr. Hussey immediately requested assistance from the CHP. He then engaged the man in conversation until the CHP and additional support arrived, including the San Francisco Police Department’s trained negotiator, water responders, ambulance, paramedics, and the United States Coast Guard. Mr. Companey and Mr. Hussey discussed rescue options and called for fall protection equipment to be delivered in case it was needed. Mr. Companey brought this equipment to the scene. The negotiator and allied team worked for two hours and eventually calmed the distraught man down enough to allow Mr. Hussey and Mr. Companey to climb over the rail. Mr. Hussey immediately grabbed the man, boosted him into Mr. Companey’s arms and up into the hands of the negotiator and CHP Officers. Their actions helped save the life of the distraught man.