Lufkin, Texas (East Texas News) — A police officer was honored for saving a woman who had attempted to jump from an overpass in Lufkin.
Lufkin Police Officer Christian Ibarra was honored at the Lufkin City Council meeting on Tuesday.
Ibarra responded to a call about a person on an overpass near the East Loop overpass on Ford Chapel Road, where he found a woman standing against a concrete barrier. Upon spotting the patrol car, she began climbing the barrier.
In the video, the officer is heard telling the woman to step away from the edge: “Hey, come here!” “Hey, step back from the edge!”
When Ibarra approached, the woman attempted to drop to the street, but he grabbed her and pulled her back onto the concrete, leaving her on the roadway.
“Helping this woman in a moment of crisis was part of Christian’s daily routine,” said Lufkin Police Chief David Thomas. After taking her to a local health facility and ensuring that staff were aware of her situation and that she was safe, he returned to his patrol unit and his duties.
Ibarra received the Meritorious Service Medal from Chief Thomas, and Lufkin Mayor Mark Hicks presented him with a certificate of recognition.
