State Traffic Officer

California Highway Patrol

3/16/1982

Special Act Award (Gold)

On March 16, 1982, at approximately 10:45 am, Officer John Wold was dispatched to a possible suicide attempt on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Upon arrival, Officer Wold observed an adult male clinging to a steel ladder on the superstructure, approximately 75 feet above the roadway and 300 feet above the bay. The subject appeared depressed and distraught and stated that he was going to jump. When the subject refused to climb down, Officer Wold obtained a nylon-webbed safety harness from bridge authority personnel and proceeded to climb toward the subject. Stopping within a few feet from the subject, Officer Wold spent approximately twenty minutes attempting to talk the subject out of taking his life. The subject ultimately conceded to abandon his suicide attempt. Officer secured his right wrist in a handcuff while holding on to the other end of the cuff to deter him from changing his mind. During the descent, Officer Wold was forced to disconnect the safety belt several times in order to maneuver the clasps past the rungs of the ladder. If at any time the suspect had decide to jump or either man slipped, Officer Wold would most certainly not survived the fall into the San Francisco Bay.