According to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies Ronk and Webb had only recently completed their training when they were dispatched to a bridge near a hospital in Lewis Center after a call to a suicide hotline reported that a young woman intended to end her life. Investigators say the woman was experiencing overwhelming medical challenges and was in a state of panic and distress when the deputies arrived on scene.
Officials said the deputies moved quickly when they reached the bridge, pulling the woman to safety and staying with her as she calmed down. Ronk and Webb are described as consoling the woman and reassuring her while they waited for additional medical and mental health support to arrive, actions the agency says were critical in stabilizing the situation.
The Sheriff’s Office cited the encounter as an example of how crisis hotlines and front-line responders work together to prevent tragedy, noting that hotline workers first assessed the caller’s suicide risk and coordinated the emergency response. Local suicide prevention advocates say such cases underscore the importance of empathy, de-escalation training, and fast response times when someone is in acute crisis.
Authorities say the woman was transported from the scene to receive further treatment, and that deputies’ actions directly contributed to saving her life. The incident has since been highlighted by the Sheriff’s Office as a reminder that help is available around the clock for anyone struggling with thoughts of self-harm.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, mental health professionals urge you to reach out immediately to a suicide hotline or local crisis line for confidential support.
