PPB, PF&R Safely Rescue Juvenile in Mental Health Crisis

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On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at approximately 10:00 a.m., officers assigned to the Portland Police Bureau's East Precinct responded to reports of a juvenile male in crisis. The boy had climbed onto the fencing of an overpass near Northeast 162nd Avenue and Northeast Russell Street. This action placed the boy in an extremely precarious and potentially life-threatening position.

Patrol officers trained in Enhanced Crisis Intervention made contact with the boy and attempted to communicate with him. Due to the seriousness of his position, they quickly realized the need for additional specialized resources. Members of PPB's Crisis Negotiation Team, Behavioral Health Unit, and the Special Emergency Reaction Team's Rope Cadre responded to assist. Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) personnel also responded to support the rescue effort.

To protect the young boy, first responders, and the public, the Oregon Department of Transportation closed lanes of Interstate 84 eastbound in the area, while Northeast 162nd Avenue was also closed to vehicular traffic.

For more than an hour, officers and crisis negotiators maintained communication with the boy, patiently working to establish trust and develop a plan that would allow him to be brought to safety. Responders carefully coordinated their actions, taking the time necessary to manage an extraordinarily delicate and dangerous situation without escalating the crisis.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., police and fire personnel used a PF&R ladder truck to safely make physical contact with the boy and bring him down from the overpass.

"Above all else, I am incredibly grateful that this young boy is safe," said PPB Chief Bob Day. "This was an extraordinarily delicate and dangerous situation, and our members approached it with the patience, compassion, professionalism, and care that this young person needed. I am tremendously proud of the PPB members who responded and put into practice their extensive specialized training. Their methodical, coordinated work with Portland Fire & Rescue made it possible to bring this young person to safety."

"We are honored to work alongside PPB on emergency incidents as we keep all of Portland safe," PF&R Chief Lauren Johnson added. "There are occasions where we combine our efforts like the successful rescue of the young person this morning. Our shared mission to keep Portland safe weaves our firefighters with members of PPB daily. We lean on the strengths and expertise of each bureau for positive outcomes in all types of emergencies. I am very proud of our members who worked with PPB today on this critical rescue and everyday as we serve those in the communities that make up Portland."

This incident required patience, specialized training, teamwork, and a deliberate approach from everyone involved. The coordinated efforts allowed responders to maintain a safe environment while giving the juvenile the time and space needed to reach a successful resolution.

PPB would like to thank all of the personnel who responded to this incident and to the community members and motorists whose patience and cooperation helped first responders safely manage the scene.

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