Joseph Stelmaszek, while walking over a bridge on his way home from school, encountered a woman who was planning to jump off the bridge and commit suicide.  Even though Joseph didn’t know the woman, he wanted to help her. He immediately started a conversation with her, explaining that he had been in a similar situation just a few weeks prior and wanted to do the same thing.

After counseling the distraught woman, Joseph convinced her to come down from the bridge with him. Then he walked her to Southwest Florida Addiction Services and convinced her to seek help. Counselors at the center said that the woman was not in good shape and certainly wasn’t thinking rationally. Joseph stayed by her side that entire afternoon until he was assured that she was safe and would receive treatment at the Ruth Cooper Crisis Unit.

Having come from a difficult background himself, Joseph knows well that a little help and caring goes a long way. For being a good citizen and a lifesaver, Joseph was honored with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Do The Right Thing Award.
(North Fort Myers, Florida: 2000)

Written by Trish Routte
Lee County Sheriff’s Office