Name Kevin Briggs | ||
 | ||
Kevin briggs the bridge between suicide and life
Sergeant Kevin Briggs (also known as the Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge) is a California Highway Patrol officer who has stopped upwards of two hundred people from jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay. Recently, Briggs announced that he would be retiring from the California Highway Patrol and focus his efforts on suicide prevention.
Contents
- Kevin briggs the bridge between suicide and life
- Kevin briggs golden gate bridge guardian
- Biography
- References
Kevin briggs golden gate bridge guardian
Biography
Briggs originally applied to the California Highway Patrol for employment when his friend applied and he wanted to see what it was about. During his career, he estimates that he dissuaded people from committing suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge about twice a month, and had done so since 1994, the year he started patrolling the bridge. By his estimates, he has dissuaded two hundred people from jumping, with only two people deciding to jump after he interceded.
According to Briggs in 2003, a typical conversation starts by asking how are they doing, followed by asking them what their plan is for the following day. If they do not have a plan, he would attempt to make them one, inviting them to come back to the bridge if the plan does not work out at the end of the day. In 2013, he would ask people, "Are you here to hurt yourself?"
In May 2013, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention recognized the California Highway Patrol with a public service award in suicide prevention. Briggs accepted the award on behalf of the California Highway Patrol. In November 2013, NBC News chronicled Briggs and reported on his impending retirement. After his retirement from the California Highway Patrol, he plans on focusing his work on suicide prevention. He is also a veteran of the United States Army.
