I was on-duty as a Fairfield Police Officer, and I arrived at North Bay Medical Center (NBMC) around 1:30 pm after following paramedics who were transporting a 13-year-old in an ambulance from his residence in Fairfield. Moments before, I determined the juvenile posed a danger to himself and would need to be placed on a 5150 hold.

The initial call to the residence was in response to a report that the juvenile had ingested an unknown quantity of ibuprofen and acetaminophen in an apparent suicide attempt. The juvenile's mother, visibly distraught, arrived home early from work just as paramedics were wheeling her son on a gurney out to a waiting ambulance. The young patient had been struggling with depression and other issues for several months and had previously declined services.

Paramedics transported him to NBMC, where he was admitted to the psychiatric ward for observation and further evaluation. I engaged in a thorough conversation with the mother, who was receptive to my suggestions regarding her son. Subsequently, I spoke at length with the juvenile in an effort to provide him with an independent perspective on his situation. Upon concluding my discussion with the teenager, I exited to the hallway where I observed the juvenile's parents conversing with the nurse overseeing their son's care. Both parents, healthcare professionals themselves, posed well-informed questions to Nurse Erin (RN, BSN, Clinical Nurse III).

What transpired next was particularly noteworthy. As I patiently waited to provide my report to the nurse, I observed what I can only describe as an exceptional display of professional conduct. Throughout my law enforcement career, I’ve spent considerable time in various hospitals. However, I had never before witnessed such a seamless demonstration of empathy, attentiveness, and confidence toward a patient's family as I did that day observing Nurse Erin.

For at least ten minutes, Nurse Erin adeptly addressed every inquiry from the family, providing reassurance on even the most minute details. She drew parallels between their parenting experience and her own, listened attentively without interruption, discussed available resources, and maintained unwavering focus on the family rather than multitasking. The compassion she exhibited was genuinely sincere, and I am confident it significantly impacted the family's ability to cope with this extraordinarily challenging situation. Nurse Erin should be commended for her ability to express this level of emotional intelligence, offering not just qualified medical care but also comfort and reassurance when it was needed most.