As Sergeant Eric Zimmerman pulled up to a home in June, he saw a man slipping his head into a homemade noose and stepping off a chair.
The Holbrook policeman bolted from his vehicle and ran to the suicidal man, wrapping his arms around the man’s legs and lifting his body to relax the tension in the rope that was strangling him.
As family members helped Zimmerman, Officer Everett Olson came to assist and cut the rope so the hanging man could be lowered to the ground.
The efforts of Zimmerman and Olson saved the man’s life, said Holbrook Police Chief Mark Jackson during Tuesday evening’s Holbrook City Council meeting.
For their actions, Chief Jackson and Lieutenant Jody Harrelson awarded the department’s Life Saving Award to the two policemen.
“It’s rare that we recognize when our officers do something right,” said Jackson. “But we need to.”
“We appreciate you guys looking out for the city of Holbrook. It’s what we expect of you and we’re glad you were there to save someone who was having a hard time,” he continued.
As Jackson pinned the medal on Olson’s chest, the city council gave the officer a standing ovation. Zimmerman could not be present and Councilman Bobby Tyler asked Jackson to return to a future council meeting to present Zimmerman’s award.
Olson has worked for Holbrook Police Department for three years, and has been the student resource officer (SRO) at Holbrook High School for the past two years.
“I love what I do and I love who I work for,” Olson said, addressing the council. “Chief Jackson and Lieutenant Harrelson support everything we do.”
Holbrook Police Chief Mark Jackson presents Officer Everett Olson with the Life Saving Award for assisting in rescuing a suicidal man in June.
