The Jumper Squad
For The New York Times, Wendy Ruderman profiles the New York City police unit tasked with talking down potential suicide victims from jumping off New York City bridges and buildings. “The roughly 300 officers in the unit are specially trained in suicide rescue, the delicate art of saving people from themselves; they know just what to say and, perhaps more important, what not to say,” writes Ruderman. Detective Marc Nell starts his conversations with potential jumpers by building a rapport. “Talk to me … Think of your family,” Nell says are typical conversation starters in the unit.