Police officer who saved lives on SC bridges retires after 28 years

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — A police officer whose crisis negotiation skills are credited with saving lives of people considering jumping off bridges in South Carolina is retiring.

Mount Pleasant Sgt. Kimberly Herring-Thomas’ last day on the job was Friday after 28 years with the force.

Herring-Thomas has worked with the bicycle patrol, as a school police officer, a field training officer and traffic service supervisor in her career.

But she said she is proudest of her work as a crisis negotiator where she would be called to the Cooper River Bridge when people were threatening to jump.

She spoke for a long time with a pregnant teenager before the woman came down. Herring-Thomas said she got a note from the woman, who named her baby Kimberly in honor of the officer who saved her life.

But Herring-Thomas said it wasn’t all talking. Mount Pleasant recognized her as officer of the year after she grabbed a man as he tried to jump from the bridge.

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Cox Media Group