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July 11, 2011 Heroic Efforts by Court Service Deputy Saves a Life Teamsters Local 700 member Robert Cokeley was waiting in line on his lunch break on April 20 when his Lieutenant called to ask him and his partner to meet her. On her way home from work, Cokeley’s Lieutenant spotted a man standing on a traffic sign on top of an overpass. “We could hear it in her voice; this was serious,” said Cokeley, who arrived on scene with his partner Tom Wilcox. Several Chicago Police Officers and Firefighters were already at the scene as well. Cokeley’s years of experience as a Court Service Deputy and special crisis intervention training allowed him to help the man threatening to jump in a way no one else could. “Everyone was yelling at him to get down, but he wasn’t paying attention to anyone,” said Cokeley. “I walked up to the fence and asked him, ‘If you’re going to jump, at least tell us why.’” That one statement prompted the man to tell Cokeley about why he felt he needed to jump, at which point Cokeley convinced him to come down so he could be brought to the hospital. “Robert is just one example of the many brave law enforcement officers we have fighting for the public everyday,” said John T. Coli, Local 700 Trustee. “We are proud to represent our members who put their own lives before others.” Cokeley admits the whole situation was frightening, but not one that he took lightly or would change. “The Teamsters always have our back. They always want to help us in situations that are always the most pleasant,” said Cokeley. “In our law enforcement positions, we’re here to help the public in the same way the Teamsters help us.” |
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