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Clinton police commend K-9 Sergeant Matt Howe and Officer Wyatt Terry for bridge rescue
Summary
Police Chief Campbell recognized K-9 Sergeant Matt Howe and Officer Wyatt Terry for rescuing a mentally distressed man from the Clinch River’s Lou Allen Bridge on Feb. 6, 2025; the man was transported for medical and mental-health evaluation.
Chief Campbell recognized K-9 Sergeant Matt Howe and Officer Wyatt Terry at the Clinton City Council meeting for actions on the evening of Feb. 6, 2025, when the two officers intervened to prevent a man from jumping from the Lou Allen Bridge over the Clinch River.
Chief Campbell said Sergeant Howe encountered the male leaning over the bridge railing, initiated conversation to de‑escalate and waited for backup. Officer Wyatt Terry arrived minutes later and, on Sergeant Howe’s direction, reached the man and pulled him back to the sidewalk. The officers secured the man and he was transported to a hospital for medical and mental‑health evaluation.
“We wanted to recognize these two gentlemen for their service on that night and that incident,” Chief Campbell said. “If you could imagine — I’m a little bit afraid of heights — to be up on the rail that high and to make a grab at somebody, which potentially could pull you over, that’s quite a dramatic end to that event.”
No formal action was taken by the council regarding the incident; the remarks were a public recognition of the officers’ lifesaving efforts.
