ATLANTA — A metro area police chief has asked GDOT to improve security fences along some Interstate 20 bridges. This comes after the chief himself talked a possible jumper off an overpass.
Video shot by a Conyers police officer showed Chief Gene Wilson leading the successful rescue on the I-20 bridge at Parker Road.
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"When I got out of the car and saw him standing there, I thought, what can I do to help him? But also, there was a little bit of doubt. What are you going to do? You really hope you don't make a mistake,” Chief Wilson said.
It happened Sunday, half an hour before noon. The chief told
a 16-
year old boy going through some emotional problems managed to get around the security fence, and was basically hanging over the highway.
"If you look at them downtown, they've kind of got those 'bat wings' on each end that you can't go around. This one, you just step up on the concrete and step around and you're out," Wilson said.
The chief said he has already informed GDOT to fix it.
Wilson said after nearly 50 years in law enforcement, he has made this type of rescue before and has seen it done many times. He said what is most troubling is that these types of incidents are increasing.
"For whatever reason, we're seeing more and more calls where people have strong emotional issues,” Wilson said.
Cox Media Group