An off-duty Virginia police officer happened to be dressed as Mrs. Claus while driving home one night this December when she saw a 25-year-old woman leaning over a bridge rail. Still in costume, but no less committed to her community, the officer pulled over and took action to save a life.
It was just after 8 p.m. on Dec. 13, and Lieutenant Tabatha Merrell, of Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Office, was departing Fredericksburg’s Public Safety Santa Run when she first spotted the young female on the Falmouth Bridge, leaning over the barrier and looking down into the river.
Merrell called for uniformed backup before proceeding to intervene, still donning her Mrs. Claus getup—dress, boots, glasses, wig, and all. She used her crisis intervention skills to connect with the woman until Patrol Sergeant Aimee Lynch, also driving returning home from the Santa Run, pulled over to help.
Lynch said, “For me, knowing we were able to help this female and give her comfort and reassuring voices, that we were there to help her and keep her safe. It’s everything.”
The officers hope that sharing this story will encourage people to look out for one another during the holiday season.
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