The Lost and the Found

https://www.wnyc.org/story/every-35-days-someone-attempts-suicide-george-washington-bridge/

Every 3.5 Days, Someone Attempts Suicide Off the George Washington Bridge

Jan 29, 2015 · by Sarah Gonzalez

Every 3.5 days someone makes their way to the pedestrian walkway of the George Washington Bridge to attempt suicide. The only barrier between them and the Hudson River 25 stories below is a waist-high metal handrail.

“There’s no fencing, there’s no netting, there’s no wall,” said Ron Shindel, the commanding officer of the Port Authority police unit on the bridge. “The bridge was opened in 1931 and I don’t think they had this problem back then.”

Suicide attempts off the George Washington Bridge have doubled over the last year and have been on the rise since 2011, when there were three deaths.

Last year, police prevented 74 people from jumping. The 18 people who did jump last year all died.

“I don’t know anywhere where police officers patrol a mile-long post and have to watch for a person jumping on a bridge,” Shindel said. “It’s difficult.”

The bridge is suspended 40 feet higher than the Golden Gate Bridge in California. The fall is lethal — if you survive the injuries.

“There are conflicting and opposite and whirlpool currents under that bridge,” Shindel said. “They’re not going to survive the water at that point, either.”

Last spring, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved up to $47 million for a project to add pedestrian safety fencing along the walkway. It will take eight years to complete.

“There is a long time between now and then,” said Richard McKeon, the head of the suicide prevention branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “That’s a lot of people who could die.”

Erecting barriers on iconic bridges around the world has reduced the number of jumping deaths — in some cases by at least half and in others by much more.

McKeon said a fence is the most effective method — even on a heavily-patrolled bridge.

“[Patrols] depend on being at the right place at the right time and being able to observe something literally just in the nick of time,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Chris Valens, said the decision to add the fencing came from within the agency, after recognizing the spike in suicides and attempts. The plan is part of a larger $1.3 billion project to replace the suspension ropes on the bridge.

“Plans to install the higher barriers build upon the Port Authority’s efforts in recent years to increase bridge patrols, improve lighting, install security cameras and call boxes and enhance the overall security and safety at our bridges,” Valens wrote in an email.

Fencing will also be installed on the Bayonne Bridge and Goethals Bridge.

The police unit that patrols the George Washington Bridge received 26 new rookie officers at the end of September. Eighteen of them have already talked at least one person off the ledge.

One rookie, Catherine Asavedo, saved four people in just three months. Officer Samantha Koch has made two saves.

“It happens so often, we were told, ‘You will encounter it,’” she said.

In three months rookie officer Samantha Koch, 28, has talked down two people from jumping off the George Washington Bridge. Both attempts took place on the 29th of the month.

Her most recent save took place right before the New Year. She was patrolling the bridge in a police car when she noticed a woman in a fur coat who looked out of place.

“I said, ‘How are you? What are you doing up here? Is everything okay?’ And she was leaning over the rail and she turned around and said, ‘I think you know what I’m doing up here.’ And she just burst out crying.”

The woman had come to the bridge the week prior but the walkway was closed that day because it was icy. She told Koch she had had a bad year and that she was having relationship issues.

“I pretty much let her know that that’s not the way to get back at somebody for hurting you! The best way is to do better. To feel good,” Koch said.

She took her hand and guided her away from the railing and into her police car.

“I was able to connect with her because she’s a 26-year-old female, I’m a 28-year-old female, so I think it was actually good that I was there,” she said. “But you can’t ask for that. It’s never going to be planned. You don’t know what officer is going to be out there.”

About 67 percent of the people who go to the bridge to jump are males and 68 percent are white. Incidents are almost evenly divided between New Yorkers and New Jerseyans.

Police investigate every threat made drunkenly at a bar and any Facebook comment about jumping. The case remains open until they either locate the person who threatened suicide or until they locate the body.