Dori: ‘This has to be fixed’ says caller after preventing friend’s suicide attempt when new state law prohibits police from responding

[Warning: content in this story may be sensitive for those who have dealt with suicide]

When a distraught friend – armed with a gun – made a “scary and frantic phone call” threatening suicide to Brian Hayvaz late Tuesday night, the former Tumwater firefighter did what most would do: he called 911 while rushing to his friend’s aid.

What Hayvas didn’t expect: a return call from a police official, apologizing for being unable to respond. Under a new state law – passed on mostly party lines in 2021 – law enforcement professionals are not allowed to intervene in suicide attempts unless another person is also in danger.

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