COLUMBUS (WCMH) — At a time of intense scrutiny for police departments across the country, three local officers are being called heroes. They put themselves in danger to save a man who was trying to end his life.

Thursday morning a man left the Columbus VA and scaled the fence of a nearby AEP substation.

When he said he was going to electrocute himself, officers didn’t hesitate to try and stop him.

“When he was at the top of the fence he said ‘I’m going to end it all now and I know how to do it,’” said Sgt. Joe Murray with VA Police.

It was at that moment, Columbus VA Police Officers James Marcinko, Sgt. Joe Murray and Lt. Michael Arrowood knew they had to act.

“As soon as he hit that first fence and that first shock went through him, it was go time,” said Lt. Arrowood.

Marcinko and Sgt. Murray climbed an 8-foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire to get to the distraught man. By that time he had made it over a second electrified fence on his way towards deadly high voltage conductors.

“If he would have touched it he would have been gone,” said Officer Marcinko.

Marcinko broke both heels falling from the fence. Sgt. Murray dislocated his shoulder and both suffered electric shocks. 

But, they got to the man, an Army Veteran, in time.

“We strive to be the best we can, we help anybody, all lives matter to us,” said Lt. Arrowood.

That suicidal man is currently in the Chillicothe VA under observation.

He is a veteran and so are the three officers who saved him.