Normal Police Department Recognizes Officers Sage and Williamson for De-escalating Mental Health Crisis Call

The Normal Police Department Facebook page recently recognized the efforts of Officer Isaiah Williamson and Officer Eric Sage for their work on a recent police call. On April 25, Normal police received a 911 call from a man in the midst of a mental health crisis who claimed to have a knife and scissors.

Officer Sage, who had previously interacted with the man and built a good relationship, volunteered to go to the scene and communicate with the man. In an effort to make contact, officers tried calling the man but received no response. Additional officers arrived at the scene and were able to establish communication with the man.

By maintaining a calm and friendly demeanor, the officers were able to keep the situation peaceful. The man recognized the officers, which helped to ease his tension. The officers worked well together in communicating with the individual.

The officers spent approximately 40 minutes speaking with the man, offering empathy and resources to help resolve the situation peacefully. Eventually, the man complied with the officers’ requests and was taken into protective custody without any issues.