For his efforts to save a man from jumping from the River Road overpass in August, Sequim Police Officer Mark Poole was awarded a 2024 Lifesaving Award from the department.

Sequim Deputy Mayor Rachel Anderson read a proclamation and with Police Chief Mike Hill honored Poole with the award and a plaque at the Oct. 14 city council meeting.

According to the police’s proclamation, Poole arrived first to a 9-1-1 call in the afternoon on Aug. 20 to the overpass where a man climbed over a railing and looked as if he was going to jump.

Poole attempted to establish a dialogue with the man.

After 90 seconds, Poole “determined that he had to take action because the male was refusing help and refused to step off the railing,” the proclamation states.

“Due to the immediate danger the male posed to himself and the potential danger to operators of vehicles on the highway below, Officer Poole took decisive action and secured the male, effectively preventing him from jumping off the bridge.”

After securing him from the overpass, Poole continued to speak with the man calmly and with kind conversation until a Designated Crisis Responder arrived.

“Due to the height of the bridge, the rapidly developing and dynamic situation, the time of day and the volume of traffic on the highway before it could be stopped, Officer Poole undoubtedly prevented the loss of life to the male and possible injury of others,” the proclamation states.

“Officer Mark Poole’s actions are directly responsible for saving a human life.”

Hill said the man who Poole helped has received follow-up services through Peninsula Behavioral Health.

This is the second Lifesaving Award for Poole, who received it initially after similarly preventing someone from jumping from the Sequim Avenue bypass in 2011.

Asked about the award after he was honored, Poole said it’s “very humbling.”

“The recognition is great, but it’d be the same result as it could have happened with anyone else (on the force),” he said.

After the presentation, Poole received a standing ovation from the audience.

Hill told the audience that Poole is “calm, cool and collected.”

“It’s literally how he operates from day to day,” he said.

Poole, Sequim’s longest serving officer, was hired in 1995 and previously worked for the Parks Service and in the Army Reserves as a police officer.

Previously, awards given to Sequim police officers were presented at an annual banquet but Hill said they now plan to present them in public more often.

On average, he said two to five awards are given a year.

Poole’s wife Tann was in attendance for the ceremony.

Photo courtesy John Southard/ Sequim police chief Mike Hill presents officer Mark Poole with a Lifesaving Award on Oct. 14 for preventing a man from jumping from the River Road bypass in August.