Staff photo / Brandon Cantwell Hubbard Township police Chief Brenda Freeman gives a certificate of Commendation for Valor to township officer Michael Rendziniak for seeking help from Hubbard city officers with a suicidal woman who was standing on an Interstate 80 bridge in late October. The coordinated effort saved the woman’s life.

HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — The township’s police chief noted she was “big” about making commendations when people do outstanding work, which is why several township and city officers were recognized for preventing a suicide.

At Tuesday night’s regular trustees meeting, police Chief Brenda Freeman read a letter she had written to Hubbard city police Chief Bob Thompson regarding an incident at which Sgts. Christopher Moffitt and Howard Haynie helped respond in late October.

Freeman said the township received calls regarding a potential suicidal woman standing on the edge of a bridge above Interstate 80 on Hubbard Masury Road, leading Officer Michael Rendziniak to request assistance.

“Through Sgt. Haynie’s rapport, effective communication skills and empathic listening, he was able to safely persuade the female to step down from a bridge,” Freeman said. “Sgt. Moffitt made sure the female was secured and safely escorted to the gurney, where she was then placed into the ambulance for transport to the hospital.”

Freeman said Rendziniak requested assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol to block certain areas of I-80, coordinating with the fire department and EMS, too, adding that his decision to seek help from the city’s police department facilitated the de-escalation of the situation.

“Officer Rendziniak demonstrated composure under pressure — clear communication and adherence to the department’s protocols,” Freeman said. “His ability to coordinate with other responding units reflects both on his training and strong commitment to public safety.”

Rendziniak gave Moffitt and Haynie credit, saying that if it wasn’t for them, he thought the situation would have had a different outcome.

“They had rapport with that female for many, many years, so without them — I’m just grateful they were working that day,” Rendziniak said.

Freeman said she was appreciative of the efforts by Moffitt and Haynie, thanking Thompson for fostering an atmosphere of “cooperation and mutual assistance” between the two departments.