Chief Constable commends call handler for exceptional efforts to prevent tragedy - Buckinghamshire

Thames Valley Police’s chief constable has awarded a call handler for his exceptional efforts in preventing a tragedy and saving a life during a distressing call in 2022.

Chief Constable Jason Hogg presented Contact Management Centre officer Dan Peters with commendations at a ceremony held at our training centre in Sulhamstead.

On 24 July 2022, Dan received a call from a distressed man who was sat in his car stating he wanted to end his life.

Dan immediately realised that he needed to keep the caller on the line and started engaging with him very carefully to try and build a rapport.

Dan questioned the caller about their location and kept updates flowing quickly to the control room, allowing them to risk assess. He remained calm and composed, which in turn helped to keep caller calm and the situation under control.

Throughout the call, Dan was empathetic to the caller, talking to him about his family and trying to reason with him not to take any action right then. Dan was compassionate and the caller clearly felt at ease talking to him.

Even after the police arrived on scene, Dan was reluctant to give up. He kept listening to what the officers were saying in the background, encouraging caller to engage with them.

At just over the two-hour mark, Dan was able to end the call and negotiators took over.

Dan said: “I am very proud to receive this commendation, recognising the call that I took back in 2022.

“The male I spoke to was very distressed and was making threats of suicide amongst other things.

“I remained calm with him, updated the log as appropriate and built up a bit of a rapport with him that prevented him taking his life until officers arrived.”

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AP