West Midlands Police officer honoured for actions
A police officer who saved a man from throwing himself off the top level of a car park has been honoured.
PC Matthew Fitzgerald, from West Midlands Police, has been handed a the Royal Humane Society parchment and a Chief Constable’s Commendation by Chief Constable Dave Thompson.
PC Fitzgerald was alerted to the man on the top of the car park by a member of the public who had flagged down a police car in Digbeth, Birmingham.
He ran up the stairs to speak with the man and build a rapport with him as he tried to move closer towards him.
The man continued to move towards the ledge and attempted to jump.
PC Fitzgerald lunged forward and grabbed hold of the man and safely pulled him to safety and spent the next six hours with the man to make sure he was okay.
Sgt Dave Gregory, who nominated PC Fitzgerald, said: “The actions and decisions made by Matt saved this young man’s life. Me and the rest of his team are really proud of him.
“Matt put the need of a vulnerable member of our community ahead of his own safety and was able to draw this incident to a safe conclusion."
