Appleton Police Department patch. (PHOTO: Courtesy of Fox 11 WLUK)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Appleton officers safely de-escalated a standoff with a male armed with an axe in the department’s lot.
It happened during the early morning hours of Wednesday when an Appleton police officer encountered a male in the department’s south lot brandishing an axe.
The officer immediately held the individual at gunpoint to ensure public safety and began talking to him.
Several other officers arrived to assist, and together they worked to de-escalate the situation.
After continued communication, the male set down the axe and stepped away.
He was taken into custody without further incident.
When officers spoke with the male, he told them he was experiencing suicidal thoughts and came to the department to force a confrontation with officers. He was transported to a local hospital to access mental health resources.
The department writes:
Situations like this highlight the importance of the de-escalation skills the Appleton Police Department prioritizes officers to use every day. The Appleton Police Department provides ongoing training in de-escalation and crisis intervention strategies to ensure officers are prepared to handle incidents involving individuals in crisis.
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to bring awareness to mental health resources and the importance of early intervention. The Appleton Police Department encourages anyone experiencing a crisis to reach out for help and reminds the community that resources are available.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the 988 Lifeline.
Comments