Gainesville Police Officer Michael Preston only knew the woman’s name, but that didn’t stop him from saving her life.
Preston, a 23-year GPD veteran, learned that a young woman was considering suicide when her out-of-state counselor notified police Dec. 9.
He found her cellphone number in a police file and called her. He didn’t identify himself as an officer but as a friend who wanted to take care of her dog. She agreed to meet with him.
Later, Preston found the woman sitting in her car with her dog at her side as well as a pack of razor blades. They talked, and she opened up to him about how she felt like a burden to her family.
“I told her it’s even more of a burden for them to take care of her death,” Preston said.
That’s when she decided to not kill herself.
On Thursday night, Preston was honored along with about 75 uniformed officers and civilians for heroic acts during GPD’s semi-annual award ceremony at Springhill Missionary Baptist Church.
Officer Brian Duelz received an award for caring for a person whose leg was severed in a Jan. 13 crash on U.S. Highway 441. Duelz took the person as well as the leg to Shands at UF for emergency treatment.
The ceremony honored 13 volunteers for their involvement in the search for Christian Aguilar last fall.
Christian’s father, Carlos Aguilar, attended the ceremony and embraced the volunteers for their involvement.
“When they work together, the results are superior,” he said. “They can save lives together.”
Gainesville Police Chief Tony Jones said citizens, like those in the ceremony, are necessary for keeping the city safe. He mentioned a recent instance when GPD intervened in a sexual battery case after a citizen tipped off the department.
“He was just a citizen saying, ‘Something is wrong,’ and calling in,’” Jones said. “The only way to manage crime is together.”
Contact Kelcee Griffis at kgriffis@alligator.org.
Gainesville Police Officer Warren Brown accepts an Award of Excellence during the Gainesville Police Department Awards Ceremony at Springhill Missionary Baptist Church on Thursday.
