BERLIN – In more than a decade as a police officer, James Minton has seen his share of suicide cases.
There’s one, however, that stands out to the 13-year veteran of the Ocean Pines Police Department. It was the first time he was able to save the person trying to end his life.
“When we got to the hospital he thanked me,” Minton said.
Last week, Minton received special recognition from Maryland State Police for his efforts in saving the life of a man who attempted suicide at an Ocean Pines home last fall. Though it was nearly a year ago, Minton can still recall every detail of the call he responded to Oct. 26, 2014.
He was just sitting down to eat dinner while on duty at Ocean Pines Police headquarters that evening when a call came in about a possible suicide.
“As the dispatcher was taking the information I took off in my vehicle toward the house,” Minton recalled this week. He said it was the victim’s wife who had called police after she received text messages from her husband that threatened suicide.
He arrived at the couple’s home the same moment as Maryland State Police Trooper Andrew Broadwater.
“I banged on the door,” Minton recalled. “He tried to look in the windows. There was no answer and we couldn’t see anybody.”
Because of the nature of the call, when the pair found the door unlocked they entered the home. They immediately caught sight of the victim.
“He was right there in the hallway,” Minton said.
The man had tied a cord around his neck and hung it from a rafter. Minton and Broadwater immediately untied him and lowered him to the floor.
“He had no vital signs,” Minton said. “He had no pulse, no heartbeat.”
They began administering CPR however and, just before paramedics arrived, the man began breathing. Minton followed the ambulance to the hospital, where the man thanked him after being admitted.
“I guess when he saw his wife there he realized the problems he had he could get through,” Minton said.
Both Broadwater and Minton were recognized with a “Superintendent’s Salute” from Maryland State Police.
“It’s a big honor,” Ocean Pines Police Chief Dave Massey said of Minton’s award. “Saving a life is not something to trifle with. It’s a big deal. He’s a hero.”
While pleased with the recognition, Minton says his actions that day last fall were a result of the training he’s received through the years as a police officer. He says the drills and practices he went through enabled him to act with the speed necessary to save the victim’s life.
“This is one of those cases where resorting to training works,” he said. “I credit the chief and the Maryland Police Academy for giving us the training they do.”
Minton says he loves being a law enforcement officer, particularly in Ocean Pines, where he responds to a wide variety of calls. He says he’s happy to help area residents with any issue that might come up.
“I consider every call I go on important,” he said. “You never know when that big call’s going to come.”