Rockmart Police officers were honored for their fast and fair thinking in recent days and ensure that a man having a mental emergency didn’t hurt himself or others during an incident.
The Rockmart City Council honored Officers Kevin Montgomery and Corey Gray for ensuring that a man suffering from a mental health crisis that was scaring local shoppers, and was wearing a bulletproof vest.
“The officers immediately recognized the issue and were able to de-escalate the situation and get the gentleman the help he needed,” the City of Rockmart posted on social media on Tuesday.
There’s a bit more to the story.
The pair of officers first got involved in the late August incident via a 911 call from a driver that dropped off the man experiencing a mental health emergency at Raceway in Rockmart, and by the time that officers searched the area after responding to the gas station at Nathan Dean Parkway and Highway 113, they found him at Mavis Tire.
Officers arrived just as employees at the auto service and tire store had encountered the man, who was described as being “aggressive and freaking people out” with his behavior and what he was saying at the time.
He was also found wearing a bulletproof vest on the outside of his clothing.
During the encounter, Officers Montgomery and Gray were able to calm the man down, learn more information about him and find his wife to contact and come bring him home. They also learned that he had already been stopped by police in another city who chose to let him move on instead of de-escalating the situation and getting him help, per Rockmart Police officials.
Since no arrest was made, no names were shared with Polk Today as to the individual who was helped.
Here’s the full posting honoring Officers Montgomery and Gray:
During our city council meeting last Tuesday, Officers Kevin Montgomery and Corey Gray were recognized and commended for their efforts during several calls recently. Officers Montgomery and Gray showed patience and great de-escalation skills while dealing with a gentleman in a mental health crisis. The man was wearing a bullet proof vest and was yelling and scaring citizens at local stores. The officers immediately recognized the issue and were able to de-escalate the situation and get the gentleman the help he needed. They also recently worked with the school system to provide assistance to a family displaced due to a house fire. Thank you guys for caring about our citizens and providing the service you do. We appreciate you.
