This episode contains descriptions that reference self-harm.

If you or someone you know is an emotional distress, call or text a Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit

988 lifeline.org.

A moment's hesitation, and this could have had a much different ending.

A man perched on the outer rail of the Manhattan Bridge, 135 feet above water, threatening to jump.

It's one of the most difficult jobs an emergency service officer can do.

This is life and death at the moment.

At any given moment, this person

who decided to jump, and we have to resolve that for this person. That's Detective Robert

Zajak. He's been a member of the NYPD for 34 years and a member of the Emergency Service Unit

for 26 years. Personally, to me, that's the most stressful job we handle, or jumpers.

Any kind of like barricade job or rescue job, you have always a little bit time to think.

This is imminent.

One wrong word, and this guy, you know, or gal may just jump to their death and it could

because of something you said.

This person is really at the end of their rope at this point in time.

If they climbed up on a bridge or to a ledge of a building, they need a lot of help and they need

it quickly, but it has to be done the right way. So it really, these jumper jobs are really

a thinking man's game. You just can't blurt anything out. You really have to think about what

you're going to tell them.

I'm retired detective sergeant Wally

Zions, and you're listening to

...