We’d like to share and highlight a first hand account of Intercon Security Officer Douglas Gallagher responding to a suicide attempt at the U District Light rail station.
“I was on the platform at U District Station when I saw a man behaving erratically, appearing to dance before collapsing near the tracks. The light rail was approaching, so I call it in and run over to help get him off the tracks. There was blood everywhere, I couldn’t make sense of where it was coming from. With help from bystanders I managed to get him back on the platform. His dark jacket was soaked with blood. He had self inflicted wounds all over his arms and his neck.
«He regained consciousness and immediately expressed suicidal intent. I had to restrain him and with the help of an off duty EMT we were able to administer first aid to the wounds.
«Despite the chaos, I managed to keep him safe until emergency services arrived. The experience was intense, and while my actions were praised, I felt unsupported by management in the aftermath. It highlighted the challenges of my role and the need for better support. We need danger pay.»
Gallagher’s story is a heroic one and he deserves a paycheck and safety on the job that reflects the dangers faced by security officers.
