Assistant Chief Brian Hopkins Honored For Saving Suicidal Veteran

Hopkins honored for going above and beyond duty

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Eric Bernsee

September 29, 2017

"Apparently it was the anniversary of a day on which something very bad happened to the Marine and his unit in Iraq, Hopkins said.As officers prepared to make contact with him he placed his military dress cap back on his head, put the car in gear and started driving toward the west exit of the parking lot."

With Greencastle City Police officers dutifully assembled Thursday afternoon for training on the new lifesaving equipment, they took time to honor a lifesaver of their own.

Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE With the rest of the Greencastle Police Department assembled behind him, Police Chief Tom Sutherlin (left) presents an award for actions above and beyond the call of duty to Assistant Chief Brian Hopkins for his actions during a crisis situation on Aug. 17.

Assistant Chief Brian Hopkins was surprised with an award for going above and beyond the call of duty on Aug. 17, 2017.

Before settling into training on the new AED (automated external defibrillator), a portable electronic device that diagnoses and can correct arrhythmia of the heart, Chief Tom Sutherlin read a citation about Hopkins prepared by Capt. Charles Inman.

“I was surprised,” Hopkins said after the squad meeting was over.

He recalled how he had already gone to bed the night of Aug. 17 when the call came in concerning a possibly suicidal person, a medically retired Marine Corps veteran in full dress uniform.

The man’s fiancée told police the 36-year-old was suffering from severe PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and seemed intent upon taking his own life through “suicide by cop.”

While responding to the scene, Capt. Inman reported, “I contacted Assistant Chief Hopkins to advise him of the situation. Recognizing the seriousness of the call, Hopkins advised he would be en route from his residence to assist in the investigation.”

In fact, Hopkins was up and out in no time.

“I’m one of those people,” he said, “who prepares everything,” laying out his clothes and all the night before.

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