SEQUIM — Sequim Police Officer Mark Poole was awarded a 2024 Lifesaving Award for his efforts to save a man from jumping from the River Road overpass in August.
Sequim Deputy Mayor Rachel Anderson read a proclamation and, along with Police Chief Mike Hill, honored Poole with the award and a plaque at the Oct. 14 city council meeting.
Poole arrived first to a 9-1-1 call during the afternoon on Aug. 20 to the overpass where a man climbed over a railing and looked as if he was going to jump, according to the proclamation.
Poole attempted to establish a dialogue with the man.
After 90 seconds, Poole “determined that he had to take action because the male was refusing help and refused to step off the railing,” the proclamation states.
“Due to the immediate danger the male posed to himself and the potential danger to operators of vehicles on the highway below, Officer Poole took decisive action and secured the male, effectively preventing him from jumping off the bridge,” the proclamation says.
Poole continued to speak with the man until a designated crisis responder arrived.
“Due to the height of the bridge, the rapidly developing and dynamic situation, the time of day and the volume of traffic on the highway before it could be stopped, Officer Poole undoubtedly prevented the loss of life to the male and possible injury of others,” the proclamation says.
“Officer Mark Poole’s actions are directly responsible for saving a human life.”
Hill said the man who Poole helped has received follow-up services through Peninsula Behavioral Health.
This is the second Lifesaving Award for Poole, who received it initially after preventing someone from jumping from the Sequim Avenue bypass in 2011.
Poole said the award is “very humbling.”
“The recognition is great, but it’d be the same result as it could have happened with anyone else (on the force),” he said.
After the presentation, Poole received a standing ovation from the audience.
Hill told the audience that Poole is “calm, cool and collected.”
“It’s literally how he operates from day to day,” Hill said.
Poole, Sequim’s longest-serving officer, was hired in 1995 and previously worked for the parks service and in the Army Reserves as a police officer.
Previously, awards given to Sequim police officers were presented at an annual banquet, but Hill said the department plans to present them in public more often.
On average, he said two to five awards are given a year.
Poole’s wife Tann was in attendance for the ceremony.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him by email at matthew.nash@sequimgazette.com.
