Woman Is About To Jump. Police Captain Saves Her. All Caught On Bodycam.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Police Captain in Riviera Beach is being called a hero today after stopping a woman from jumping off a bridge Wednesday evening. The entire encounter was captured on police body cam. The Riviera Beach Police Department shared the video with BocaNewsNow.com. You can view it below. Police also provided this narrative:
>> At 6:14 p.m. October 1, several callers to the Riviera Beach Police Department 911 Emergency Communications Center said there was a woman threatening to jump from the bridge. While one caller was on with 911, he can be overheard telling the lady in crisis, “Please don’t do that…please don’t do that, Ma’am…you got more to live for.”
The caller continued to plead with her to get down. Another bystander, a woman, walked closer to the lady on the rail and began talking to her. Captain Melvin Menard arrived on the opposite side of the two women talking and climbed over a concrete barrier and inched towards the woman sitting on the rail.
He approached gently and was able to get his arms around her and compassionately coax her to safety. The 58-year-old woman was taken to be evaluated under the Florida Mental Health Act, commonly called the Baker Act.
“The actions of the Samaritans and Captain Menard no doubt saved this desperate woman’s life,” said Chief Michael Coleman. Attempts to get ahold of the Samaritans and acknowledge their selfless acts are underway. “They truly represent the spirit of the community of the City of Riviera Beach that we are proud to be a part of.” <<
