QUEENS — Two Forest Hills police officers were named “Cop of the Month” for rescuing a man who threatened to jump from a 22nd floor balcony on Queens Boulevard.
On April 7, Sgt. Eduardo Roche, a 12-year veteran, and Officer Frank Nappi, who has worked for the NYPD for more than 5 years, were patrolling the streets of Forest Hills when they got a call about a man threatening to commit suicide around 6:30 a.m., authorities said.
The man had been diagnosed with cancer and “wanted to end his life,” said Capt. Thomas Conforti, commanding officer of the 112th Precinct at a precinct community council meeting Thursday night.
When they arrived at the building on Queens Boulevard, near 68th Drive, the man was standing on the outside of the balcony railing.
The officers approched the man very slowly and asked him not to jump. They also said that they could help him.
The man told them that he had cancer and was in pain.
The officers, Conforti said, were able to “gain his confidence.”
At some point, he said, “they were able to move close enough and in the blink of an eye they made a decision and they managed to grab him, secure him and pull him over from the brink of committing suicide.”
“Thanks to them,” Conforti said, “he is still with us today, getting the help that he needs.”
