Former Detroit Mercy soccer player Abigail (McCollum) Campbell was honored Friday at the men’s basketball game against University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) for an act of heroism.
Campbell, who is now a police officer, talked a man out of jumping off of the Livernois overpass into traffic on the Lodge Freeway (M-10) on the morning of Feb. 4, less than a mile from McNichols campus.
Many police and firefighters were at the scene, but Campbell decided to take the situation into her own hands and jump into action.
She approached the 51-year-old man and asked him what was going on in his life, to try to understand where he was coming from, according to an article in the Detroit Free Press.
The man told Campbell that no one cared about him and that he wanted to die.
Campbell reassured the man that she, along with the other responders, cared about him, and that they wouldn’t be there if they didn’t.
After nearly an hour, the man came down from the overpass, and was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital.
Friday’s basketball game was dedicated to all first responders and members of military.
“It’s a proud moment,” Campbell said. “I work for the greatest (police) department in the country, and went to the greatest school in the country.”
Campbell received two degrees from Detroit Mercy: a bachelor’s in criminal justice in 2013 and a master’s in intelligence analysis in 2014.
She joined the Detroit Police Department last April.
She attributes much of the knowledge that she used at the scene to her education, which she said prepared her for life after college.
“With only four months in the field, (Campbell) has displayed the type of leadership and valor which has become synonymous with the Detroit Police,” stated a department post on the Detroit Police Facebook page. “Her actions and that of her fellow officers resulted in a man’s life being saved.”
While playing for the Detroit Mercy women’s soccer team, Campbell scored 17 goals and had 14 assists during her four-year career. While she was studying for her graduate degree, she was also a graduate assistant coach.
“I love Detroit because I’m a Titan,” she added. “My heart is here, and I’m fortunate to have a job here.”
