SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — Officers with the Sevierville Police Department rescued a man in crisis Thursday morning after he was found standing on the edge of a closed sky bridge overlooking the French Broad River.

Police said the call came in just before 9 a.m. on Jan. 8, 2026, reporting an apparently suicidal man on the deteriorating bridge. Multiple SPD units responded, including the Crisis Negotiation Team, Patrol Division, Community Resource Unit, Criminal Investigation Division and command staff.

CID Sgt. Dweese Milliron, serving as the lead negotiator, went onto the bridge to establish rapport with the man, who was standing on a narrow ledge outside the bridge railing. As the man released his grip and began to fall, Sgt. Milliron and crisis counselor William Rickels grabbed him. Additional officers rushed in to help secure and pull the man back over the railing to safety.

The rescue was made more dangerous by the condition of the bridge, with several wooden planks breaking during the operation. Police said the man and officers suffered only minor scrapes and bruises. The man was transported for medical and mental health evaluation.

“These men and women put their own lives in harm’s way to save a man who was in obvious crisis,” Chief Joseph Manning said. “Their bravery and teamwork reflect the very best of our department.”

The department released edited body-worn camera video of the rescue to protect the individual’s identity.

Anyone experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a free and confidential support service available 24/7 in the United States.

Source: Sevierville Police Department