Louisville, United States - October 09, 2024

A Louisville Metro Police officer is being hailed as a hero after body cam footage captured his heartfelt efforts to save a man from taking his own life on the Lincoln Memorial Bridge.

On October 9, Officer Ali Thomas responded to a distress call about a man contemplating suicide. Drawing on his experience as a retired firefighter, Thomas approached the situation with empathy and connection. Noticing the man was wearing a firefighter shirt, he reached out, saying, "I'm a Louisville firefighter, I'm retired I came over to the police side brother, we got your family, friends—they are calling; they are worried about you."

Through calm and compassionate dialogue, Thomas was able to establish a bond with the man, eventually persuading him to climb back over the ledge to safety. Reflecting on the emotional weight of the moment, Thomas shared, "It's real emotional just talking about it right now... I just didn’t want anybody to jump. So that’s all I was thinking."

Having joined the Louisville Metro Police Department in 2021 after retiring from the fire service, Thomas's dual experience uniquely positioned him to navigate this critical situation, ultimately saving a life.