Deputies honored for response to suicidal man

Last week, four sheriff’s deputies and five dispatchers as well as three private citizens were recognized for their life-saving work in two June incidents that occurred within nine days of each other.

According to a press release from Sheriff Christy Knowles:

The first incident occurred about 5 p.m. on Friday, June 14, at about 5 p.m. on Port Washington Road just north of Lakefield Road in the Town of Grafton.

County dispatch received a call from a woman who said her husband was experiencing a mental health crisis and had made suicidal statements.

She said her husband had left his Town of Grafton home in his vehicle and had access to firearms, but she was unaware if he had a gun with him.

Deputy Tyler Schleg and officers from the Grafton Police Department began searching for the vehicle, eventually locating it and stopping the driver on Green Bay Road just north of Lakefield Road.

Schleg and several Grafton officers were about to approach the vehicle when the man fired one round from his weapon out the front passenger side window toward the west and then put the gun to his head.

Schleg began speaking with the driver in an attempt to de-escalate the situation and get the man to comply with his orders.

As Schleg continued talking with the man, more law enforcement officers arrived on the scene.

“Schleg remained calm and spoke to the subject compassionately and empathetically,” Knowles said.

Schleg turned over communication with the man to Sgt. Justin DeSmidt.

The man said numerous times the did not want to hurt officers or anyone else except for himself. He pointed his weapon at the deputies and officers and back to his head on several occasions before complying with orders to put the gun down.

“DeSmidt remained calm and patient as he spoke to the subject and provided caring, compassionate questions to the subject,” Knowles said. “No yelling, no demands, just telling the subject what he needs him to do to resolve the situation peacefully.”

The conversation with the man lasted about 20 minutes before he finally complied and was taken into custody.

“Sgt. DeSmidt and Deputy Schleg, as well as all officers on scene, showed great restraint as the outcome of the situation could have ended tragically,” Knowles said.

“However, through active listening, patience and understanding of what the situation was about, the subject was taken into custody and provided the mental health treatment he so desperately needed in that moment.”

DeSmidt and Schleg were presented by Knowles during last week’s ceremony with the Sheriff’s Office Gold Coin, which  is given to a person who displays exemplary performance and goes above what is expected of them, Knowles said.

“The performances of both Sgt. DeSmidt and Deputy Schleg during this mental health crisis are a reminder to us of our unwavering core values of integrity, loyalty, honor and duty,” she said.

Knowles also recognized dispatchers Lexi Ripple, Jessica Medinger, Jenna Brunnquell and David Halphen for their roles with a Certificate of Excellence.

“One thing that we tend to forget are those calm partners behind the scenes. During this incident our dispatchers worked as a team to help coordinate efforts and dispatch resources all the while they are taking calls and dispatching other incidents throughout the county,” Knowles said.

In the second incident, which occurred on Sunday, June 23, Kornelis Polman, a private citizen, contacted the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office saying he and his wife, Alyssa Polman, found a man lying face down on the side of Sauk Trail Road in Harrington Beach State Park in the Town of Belgium.

They reported he was pulseless, not breathing and purple in the face.

While Mr. Polman remained on the phone with Sheriff’s dispatchers, Mrs. Polman rolled the man over and began performing CPR.

Sheriff’s deputies Ryan Swendson and Wade Thompson were dispatched to the location.

Meanwhile, another citizen, Kathy Weiland, stopped at the scene and assisted by taking over CPR chest compressions from Mrs. Polman as Medinger remained on the phone and helped provide CPR instructions.

Swendson and Thompson  took over CPR when they arrived, with Thompson deploying an automated external defibrillator, or AED, on the victim.

Two shocks were delivered while Swendson continued with chest compressions. Thompson also used a bag valve mask for rescue breaths until Belgium Fire Department EMTs arrived on scene and resumed medical care.

The victim’s identity was unknown as he had no identification on him.

An investigation that spanned several hours, covering numerous leads and checking campsites at Harrington Beach, was conducted.

Dispatcher Leah Ellestad assisted with efforts to help identify the victim, checking various sources of information in Wisconsin and out of state, even researching a logo on the victim’s shorts.

Finally, the victim’s son called and identified the man as Joseph Gross. It was determined Gross had gone for a morning run and suffered a cardiac event.

Gross has since made a full recovery.

“The quick and decisive actions by citizens Kornelis and Alyssa Polman, Kathy Weiland, Deputies Thompson and Swendson and guidance by dispatcher Jess Medinger were critical in the preservation of Joseph’s life,” Sheriff Christy Knowles said in a ceremony last week.

“Dispatcher Ellestad went above and beyond her duties to attempt to identify the victim,” she said.

At last week’s ceremony, Knowles awarded the Polmans and Weiland the Citizen Appreciation Coin for their actions.

Medinger was awarded a bronze coin for her calmness during the June 23 incident. Ellestad was awarded a Certificate of Excellence. Thompson and Swendson were awarded the Lifesaving Award for their actions.