California Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

2/2/2016

Special Service Award (Silver)

On February 2, 2016, at 12:05 p.m., Officer Christopher Swanberg, responded to a call in the Fresno area of a pedestrian who appeared to be suicidal. Officer Swanberg arrived on scene and made contact with the pedestrian. The man was standing barefoot atop the concrete bridge rail bordering the east side of State Route 41, making statements that he wanted to die. His position atop the railing placed him directly over the westbound traffic lanes of Herndon Avenue. Officer Swanberg engaged the individual in dialogue to build rapport and gain trust. As Officer Swanberg continued to communicate with him, he feigned difficulty hearing, which allowed him to strategically decrease the distance between the two. While talking, the individual swayed back and forth, lost his balance, and fell backward, landing on the freeway side of the bridge rail. The individual immediately scrambled to his feet and lunged towards the bridge rail, but Officer Swanberg rushed forward and grabbed him. The individual struggled fiercely to break free from Officer Swanberg’s grasp by deliberately pulling away, flailing his arms and spinning around, bringing them both closer to the rail. Officer Swanberg was unable to keep the individual from moving back to the rail and swinging his left leg over. Officer Swanberg continued to hold him, while the individual pushed with his right leg and pulled with his arms in an attempt to break free and fall to the roadway below. Officer Swanberg exerted all of his energy to keep both of them from going over the rail. Eventually, with the assistance of two passing motorists, Officer Swanberg was able to pull the individual back over the rail where he was placed into custody and transported by ambulance to a psychiatric facility.