On April 20, 2015, three Newport Police Officers were awarded Life Saving Medals for their roles in saving the life of a suicidal subject on the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The incident occurred on December 26, 2014. At approximately 2:07 p.m., Newport Police Officers responded to the Yaquina Bay Bridge on a report of a subject sitting on the railing on the west side of the bridge. Newport Officer Brad Purdom was the first to arrive on scene. He found a 41 year-old male Newport resident sitting of the railing near the center span of the bridge. Officer Purdom began talking with the subject, and engaged him in conversation. The subject made very clear his intention to jump from the bridge. At one point, the subject climbed over the rail, and was on the west side bridge railing. Newport Police Officer Kraig Mitchell, and Chief of Police Mark Miranda, arrived on scene to assist Officer Purdom. Officer Purdom engaged the subject in conversation for 32 minutes, at which point the subject climbed back over the railing so that he was standing on the sidewalk. The on-scene Officers continued to converse with the subject, but he attempted to again climb over to the west side of the bridge railing. The Officers were able to grab him as he released his grip on the bridge rail, and began to fall. Officers pulled the subject to safety, and detained him in handcuffs for his own protection. The report of the responding Officers’ actions was submitted to the Newport Police Department Awards Committee, which reviewed the incident. The Awards Committee concluded that the actions of Officer Purdom, Officer Mitchell, and Chief Miranda saved the life of the individual. The Committee recommended each Officer receive the Newport Police Department Life Saving Award. Officer Brad Purdom, Officer Kraig Mitchell, and Chief Mark Miranda were recognized for their selfless acts at the April 20, 2015 Newport City Council Meeting. They were awarded lifesaving medals by Newport Mayor Sandra Roumagoux.
