Recent newspaper article about MASP

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The News-Herald: The Voice of Downriver
Published: Wednesday, April 07, 2010
BROWNSTOWN TWP: Police detective to be awarded for talking teen out of suicide
By Jackie Harrison-Martin

BROWNSTOWN TWP. — Members of the Michigan Association for Suicide Prevention do their best to prevent the situations that have everlasting effects on loved ones left behind.

Larry Lewis, president of MASP, read a story in last Wednesday’s editions of The News-Herald Newspapers detailing how Detective Lt. Robert Grant helped prevent a distraught teenager from taking his own life.

Members of the organization were so impressed with how Grant handled the potentially life-ending situation March 25 that they are presenting him with an award.

“We want to recognize him because he makes ‘protect and serve’ a reality,” Lewis said.

Grant is expected to be recognized by the group at the April 19 meeting of the township Board of Trustees. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the municipal complex on Telegraph Road.

Grant was among about 20 police officers who came face to face with an armed 19-year-old South Rockwood man threatening to shoot himself in the head.

Police said the man was distraught over a breakup with his girlfriend. According to a police report, the former girlfriend told police the man made several threats to harm himself, others and “go nuts” on law enforcement officers if he came into contact with them.

Grant and other officers chased the man through the Ramblewood subdivision near Roche and Allen Road for about an hour before the foot pursuit came down to a standoff.

After a tense time negotiating with the man, Grant convinced him not to commit suicide and to put the gun down.

The incident was resolved without any injuries or shots fired.

“This speaks highly of the township’s Police Department,” Lewis said. “This could have turned out a different way.”

Lewis said it appears that, initially, the standoff was going in an unfortunate direction. He said he knows Grant was taking a chance trying to negotiate with a man with a gun to his head.

“He saved a life,” Lewis said. “Actually, he may have saved several lives.”

There was concern at the scene for police, bystanders and the gunman.

With about 20 police officers on the case, Grant said this simply is a reflection of the “great job” every officer at the scene did.

Grant said that for as much pressure as there was at the scene, every officer helped him stay calm and focused as he tried to defuse the situation.

“It helped me save someone,” Grant said.

This is the first non-departmental lifesaving award Grant has received.

He said he considers it an honor to be recognized by a group such as MASP because of the important work its members do every day.

“They do such a fantastic job,” Grant said. “It means a lot to me to receive an award from them.”

The suicide-prevention group started more than 25 years ago. Its mission is to reduce the number of suicides and attempts in the state, to support those left behind and to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and suicide.

The following facts were provided by MASP:

More than 33,000 Americans, including 1,000 in Michigan, kill themselves every year.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, especially for youth and the elderly.

Each death by suicide leaves behind an estimated six to 10 survivors, which amounts to as many as 330,000 in the United States (including 10,000 in Michigan) every year.

Surviving family and friends not only suffer the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide, but also are at higher risk themselves of attempting suicide and developing other emotional problems.

Most suicidal people desperately want to live, but can’t see alternative solutions to their problems.

Some suicidal individuals show signs of their intentions, but people might not be aware of the significance of those warnings or know how to react to them.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, call 1-800-273-8255. It is a 24-hour crisis line and will connect you to someone in your area.

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