State Trooper Receives Lifesaving Award for Waukesha County Rescue

A Wisconsin State Trooper was honored Wednesday at the State Capitol for preventing a suicide after he found a man preparing to jump off an Intertate-94 bridge on May 14.

The trooper, David A. Schmidt, of Ixonia, was given the State Patrol Life Saving Award for his actions that day.

From the Wisconsin State Patrol news release:

The suicidal subject had one leg over the barrier wall and later stated he was waiting for a semi-truck “to do it right.”

 Trooper Schmidt approached the subject and offered to help him back to the bridge deck. Trooper Schmidt repeatedly reassured the subject he was there to help him. Once he had both of the subject’s feet on the bridge deck, Trooper Schmidt placed him in handcuffs for his own safety until he was transported to a hospital.

 For preventing a potential suicide, Trooper Schmidt’s professional training and skills were recognized with the State Patrol Lifesaving Award.

Schmidt was one of 13 troopers who were honored in Madison for their actions.

“All members of the State Patrol make our highways and communities safer through their professional and tireless dedication to traffic and public safety,” said State Patrol Superintendent Stephen Fitzgerald in the news release. “But the members of the State Patrol who received special awards have demonstrated exceptional expertise and courage under extremely stressful conditions. Their achievements go well above and beyond their normal duties.”