NEW YORK (WABC) — This week’s MTA Heroes are two MTA PD officers whose decisive actions and thoughtful engagement helped prevent a tragedy.<\/p>\n
Early on the morning of Saturday, May 23, an alert was issued for a person on the Bronx-bound entrance ramp from the Cross Island Parkway to the Throgs Neck Bridge.<\/p>\n
Officers Edward Macaluso and Joseph Brienza were the first to arrive on the scene, where they saw a person standing on the ramp’s concrete barrier while holding onto a light pole, threatening to jump.<\/p>\n
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the officers immediately began to engage with the individual, de-escalating the situation.<\/p>\n
Members of the New York City Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit and Hostage Negotiation team subsequently joined the effort, which lasted more than two hours.<\/p>\n
The person ultimately agreed to come down from the barrier and was taken to a nearby hospital.<\/p>\n
Officers Macaluso and Brienza reflect the highest standards of public service.<\/p>\n
The two were honored by the President of MTA Bridges and Tunnels at this month’s Committee Meeting.<\/p>\n
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