New Bedford Officers Save Life in Freezing Search

When a New Bedford family received messages indicating their loved one was considering suicide, five police officers began a race against time in freezing temperatures that would save a life.

Officers Axel Rodriguez, Evan Bretal-Paiva, Helder Silva, Andrew Parker, and Johnny Vongsouna spent over an hour searching through the dark earlier this week. Using cell phone location data, they checked parks, buildings, and wooded areas on foot and by cruiser as temperatures dropped dangerously low.

The officers refused to give up. Every minute mattered as they coordinated with dispatchers who tracked possible locations and guided the search effort.

Finally, they found him. The man was outdoors, suffering from extreme cold exposure and intoxication, but he was alive. Immediate medical care followed, giving him a fighting chance at recovery and a path forward.

Why This Inspires

This rescue shows what happens when people refuse to accept the worst outcome. The officers could have scaled back their search as conditions worsened. Instead, they pushed harder, knowing someone's life hung in the balance.

Their actions represent the side of police work that rarely makes headlines. No arrests were made. No crime was solved. But a life was saved, and a family got their loved one back.

The New Bedford Police Department shared body camera footage of the rescue to show the reality of crisis intervention work. These moments of persistence and compassion happen more often than most people realize, carried out by officers and dispatchers who see their job as protecting life above all else.

The man now has access to the support and treatment he needs. Sometimes the most important calls don't end with handcuffs. They end with hope and the promise of tomorrow.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7 through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988.