South County Police Officers Being Honored by Mental Health America

Several police officers from around St. Louis County will be recognized Wednesday by the Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri (MHA-EM) during their 27th annual Police Recognition Luncheon, according to a release from Mental Health America.

MHA-EM will honor 39 officers for the John J. McAtee Award, in recognition of their showing compassion, concern and understanding when working with individuals in psychiatric crisis, according to the release. 

Seven officers from South County will be honored, from MHA-EM:

• Officers Kevin Helldoerfer and Timothy Harrison responded to a call about an individual sitting on a beam on the outside of a bridge, who they believed had intentions of jumping. Through conversation, the officers were able to get the person off the bridge.
• Officers Nicholas Nazzoli, Fareid Yaakub, Robert Wadsack, Daniel Bradley and Adam Schuette responded to an individual clinging to a vertical support beam on a bridge. The officers built a rapport with the individual and convinced them to return to safe ground.