Detective is honored by his co-workers — and his union — for saving a life
Police Detective Edward Pickard, of Auburn, N.Y., was at the station, but he knew he was closer to the scene of the apparent suicide attempt than his fellow officers out on patrol. The dispatcher said someone jumped off a bridge into the frigid river below.
“I knew I was … maybe her only chance at getting out of that water alive,” said Pickard, a member of the Auburn Police Union, AFSCME Local 195 (Council 82), recalling that day in late March, when the water was a potentially lethal 34 degrees. “So, I did what any other officer would have done — I got in my patrol car and went to help.”
Pickard spotted the woman floating 15 yards from the shore. She was shouting for help but not moving, with only her winter jacket apparently keeping her afloat. Pickard and Officer Lucas Drancsak, who had arrived at the scene by this point, scaled a retaining wall and dropped 10 feet to the riverbank.
And that’s when Pickard’s training and instincts kicked in. He knew he had to get in the water to save her. So, he shed his gear to get lighter and dove into the freezing river.
“When I got to her, I grabbed her torso to make sure her coat wouldn’t come off and then started to push her to the shore as hard as I could. I ended up going under the water myself a few times, but when we finally got there, Officer Drancsak was able to direct responding medical care to her,” said Pickard. “My adrenaline was really going, so the whole process felt like it only took a few seconds.”
Because of Pickard’s bravery, speed and the support of his fellow first responders, the victim survived. She was safely removed from the water and transported to a hospital for treatment. After getting checked out by a medical team, Pickard went home, changed into dry clothes and returned to work.
Pickard’s life-saving actions were honored recently by the Auburn Police Department, which presented him with the Act of Valor Award. He is also the latest winner of AFSCME’s Never Quit Service Award, which our union gives to members who go above and beyond to serve their communities.
“Ed is the type of officer you want in your community and on your team because doing everything he can to support his community is what he is focused on every day,” said Officer Michael Bufano, president of the Auburn Police Union, AFSCME Local 195. “He was born and raised here in Auburn, and this recognition is well deserved for how he brings positive feeling every day for the work we do.”
Pickard’s bravery exemplifies the commitment to serve the public that defines AFSCME Public Safety members across the country.
Pickard said what he did wasn’t anything special.
“I’m not a hero. We are here to do a job to the best of our abilities and I’m sure anyone in my position would have made the same decision,” said Pickard. “Most people don’t understand that public workers are putting their lives into these jobs and into these towns. It doesn’t matter what their job or title is, they are putting in time and effort every day to make lives better for people they mostly don’t even know. We all serve in our own way and getting some recognition for that is great.”
