The Greater Sudbury Police Service, hosted a Ministry accredited 5-day Crisis Negotiator and Recertification course, facilitated by CCII. The course qualified and recertified members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service, North Bay Police Service, and members of the Timmins Mobile Crisis Team.

A few days following the course, members of the Greater Sudbury Police Tactical Unit and Crisis Negotiators demonstrated their skills and successfully prevented a person in crisis from committing suicide.( See below CTV news report.) Great work by members of the Great Sudbury Police Service, their Incident Commander, Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiators and with the assistance of Dr. Jean-Guy Gagnon. Well done Sudbury! CTV Report: Greater Sudbury Police say they successfully de-escalated a “volatile situation” at a Bruce Street apartment building Sunday evening involving a man in distress on a 15th floor balcony. Police say they received a call at 5 p.m. Oct. 18 about a man allegedly armed with an axe attempting to enter a unit within the building.

Officers found the man on the balcony of a unit located on the 15th floor of the building. The man was in emotional distress, and there were concerns he was a danger to himself, but at no point did officers see an axe in his possession, say police. Police secured the area and two officers began speaking with the man from an adjacent balcony.

Members of the Emergency Response Unit (Tactical Unit) trained in Crisis Negotiations arrived on scene and took over communications with the man.  The man in distress told officers he had locked himself out of his unit and that he was cold. The man agreed that officers could enter his apartment, unlock the balcony door and leave, allowing him to go inside. 

When the man went inside his unit, Emergency Response Officers rappelled down onto his balcony to ensure that he could not go back outside, greatly reducing the risk of self-harm.  Negotiators continued communications with the man until just after 9 p.m., when he peacefully surrendered to officers. The 30-year-old man was transported to hospital to receive the treatment and services that he requires. 

“We would like to commend everyone involved in this call for de-escalating a volatile situation and coming to a peaceful resolution,” said GSPS. “Great work by everyone involved.”