Cal Poly police officer honored for saving life of suicidal student

Cal Poly University Police Department Officer Chad Reiley is being honored for saving the life of a suicidal student in 2016, according to the department.

Reiley has been in law enforcement for 22 years and is a 12-year veteran of the Cal Poly University Police Department.

Reiley was honored Wednesday by the California State University system, receiving the first inaugural CSU Lifesaving Medal. The medal is one of the highest awards issued by the school system.

The 2016 incident happened at the top level of the Village Drive parking garage. Reiley was on routine patrol when he saw a student on a ledge of one of the structures. After 30 minutes of talking to him, Reiley was able to convince the student to come off of the ledge.

“The cell phone [the student] had in his possession had text messages where he had said goodbye to several friends and indicated his plans to end his life that night,” UPD Lt. Bryan Cox wrote in a commendation report.

The student would eventually return to Cal Poly and continue with his college career.

“I’m glad I was able to get a student help when he needed it,” Reiley said.

Reiley is currently one of the department’s K-9 handlers. He is pictured above with his partner, Brisant.