Ep 77: Sgt. Kevin Briggs, the “Guardian of the Golden Gate” on Suicide Intervention and Resilience
The Squad Room · Garrett Te Slaa: Police Sergeant | Law Enforcement Veteran | Host
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Show Notes
Sgt. Kevin Briggs of the California Highway Patrol is the subject of one of the most famous photos in law enforcement. He’s leaning over the railing of the Golden Gate Bridge talking to a suicidal man who is ready to jump. The dramatic photo only tells a small portion of Kevin’s story, a story in which Kevin has saved over 200 people from jumping.
When a photographer snapped that photo, it led to a feature in a local paper that dubbed him the “Guardian of the Golden Gate.” The nickname stuck and Kevin became a sought-after expert on suicide prevention and intervention. In addition to over 20 years in the California Highway Patrol, Kevin is a graduate of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Course, and a U.S. Army veteran.
In this conversation, Kevin brings a pretty intense level of honesty to the podcast sharing that he himself has battled depression and has sought treatment.
Check out his website, at pivotal-points.com
Here’s the link to his Ted talk, “The Bridge Between Suicide and Life.”
Here’s his book, “Guardian of the Golden Gate: Protecting the Line Between Hope and Despair.”