Fort Walton Beach police officers successfully prevented a man from jumping off the Brooks Bridge Thursday evening after a 40-minute crisis intervention.

• Police responded to reports of a suicidal individual threatening to jump from the bridge. Officers found the man seated on the railing of the westbound lanes, just east of the bridge’s center span.

The initial responding officer immediately began talking with the individual, using patience and empathy to build trust. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Coast Guard also responded to assist with the situation.

During the 40-minute encounter, the man shifted between sitting fully on the railing and straddling it with one leg over the edge. At the subject’s request, only the initial officer continued speaking with him while additional units provided support from a distance to preserve the rapport.

• Physical intervention was not considered a safe option given the individual’s position on the bridge. The officer’s calm and compassionate approach proved effective in the negotiation.

The individual was eventually persuaded to step away from the edge and was taken into protective custody without incident.

Because the encounter occurred just east of the bridge’s center span, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office assumed custody and transported the individual to the hospital under the Baker Act for further evaluation and care.

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department cited the incident as an example of the importance of crisis intervention training, interagency cooperation, and law enforcement’s commitment to preserving life.