Athens police officer gets help for suicidal woman

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By Joe Johnson

An Athens police officer recently talked down an armed woman from killing herself and helped get her to the hospital.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of July 25th when a security officer at the Baxter Street library reported seeing the woman holding a knife to her throat.

Upon arriving at the scene, Officer John Sullivan saw the woman run across the street to a gas station where he made contact with her as she held a long kitchen knife to her stomach.

Engaging the 36-year-old woman in conversation, the officer listened to a tale of despair and desperation that included being in and out of shelters and just two days earlier victimized by a violent sexual assault.

After a while Sullivan had gained enough trust with the woman that she complied with his request to hand over the knife.

He continued listening to the woman’s story until a National EMS ambulance crew arrived and transported her to the hospital.