Bergen County Security Officer Disarms Suicidal Woman

RIDGEFIELD PARK -- A Bergen County security officer helped save an armed suicidal woman in Overpeck Park late Saturday, police said. 

Security Officer Keith McGovern was closing the park around 10 p.m. when he noticed what appeared to be a man and woman hugging near the amphitheatre, according to the Bergen County Police Department.

“As he drew closer, he could hear the male asking for help. When [McGovern] exited his vehicle, the male party told him the female was in possession of a knife,” a police statement said.

McGovern noticed that the man, identified as the woman’s boyfriend, was holding her hand, gripping the knife and restraining her, police said. The officer carefully approached and was able to take the weapon.

The woman began to walk away as the officer secured the knife, police said. McGovern followed her on the bike bath and alerted county police officers. She was taken to Bergen Regional Medical Center for evaluation.

County security officers are a unit of the county police department tasked with patrolling various facilities.

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