When Salem’s 2024 Police Officer of the Year went to work on January 18, 2024, he had no idea how much he would appreciate the sound of a child crying. Senior Police Officer Jared Bridges was inside his patrol vehicle on Roanoke Boulevard when he was asked to respond and assist a choking toddler.
“When you get those calls where kids are involved, it gets your blood pumping because you never want to see anything bad happen to a child,” Bridges said. “I am pretty sure I passed the EMS crew on my way to the house.”
When he arrived, the child’s mother was terribly upset and shaken, while the 19-month-old child was eerily quiet.
“I remember the child lying face down in the bed with his head sideways, but not crying, talking, or making a sound.” said Bridges. “I thought that was really weird, so I immediately picked him up and started applying light strokes to his back.”
After a few taps, the child began crying and he vomited up a guitar pick that he had somehow swallowed. Once his airway was clear, the child once again started breathing normally.
“We couldn’t believe it, but EMS checked him out and he didn’t even have to be transported,” Bridges said.
Bridges learned important values like leading by example, treating people with respect, and working as a team while growing up in the Ferrum section of Franklin County. He starred for coach Barry Shelton on the Franklin County High School baseball team as a pitcher and third baseman, and he also ate his share of hotdogs at the regionally famous Bowling’s Place diner during those formative years.
“As a pitcher I worked with the entire team toward the ultimate goal of getting a win, so the lessons I learned playing sports definitely translate to this job,” he said. “As a police officer your job is to protect the public and solve problems alongside your fellow officers.”
Bridges played baseball at both Patrick Henry Community College and at King College in Bristol. He graduated from King in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, but his desire to be in law enforcement really began years earlier when he was a student at Ferrum Elementary School.
“I was in 5th grade and one day there were reports of a possible armed suspect on the Ferrum College campus which was very close to our school,” he said. “Our teacher told us to stay away from the windows, but I couldn’t help myself and did the exact opposite. I saw SWAT people were all around the school and I remember thinking this is really cool.”
Ironically, Bridges is now one of those “SWAT people” serving Salem’s population as a member of the department’s Emergency Response Team. He also goes out of his way to assist younger officers in the Field Training program.
“Senior Officer Bridges reports for duty with a positive attitude and a smile on his face, ready to serve the community,” said Salem Police Chief Derek Weeks. “Whether it is serving as a field training officer or providing life saving measures, he maintains a calm demeanor and gets the job done. The community and the department are fortunate to have Senior Officer Bridges.”
There are dozens of law enforcement agencies between Franklin County and Bristol, but fortunately a family recommendation guided Bridges to Salem.
“Honestly, the only time I came to Salem was to watch my high school gets its tail whipped by Salem in football or see the Red Sox play, but my sister-in-law grew up in the Glenvar area and she always told me the police department here was virtually perfect,” he said. “She said Salem did an amazing job protecting the city and that the officers had lots of citizen support and very few complaints, and those were the things I was looking for.”
These days he is on the lookout for the criminal element when it enters the city. Senior Officer Bridges regularly provides extra patrols and consistently identifies suspicious people and vehicles. His efforts have led to multiple arrests and the seizure of narcotics.
“I really rely heavily on my instincts and If I see something that doesn’t seem right, I am going to figure out what’s going on,” Bridges said. “I like working in the Lakeside area where Melrose runs into Main Street. I just feel like I can be more proactive in that area of the city.”
Bridges is known for his smile, good nature, humility, and his ability to talk to anyone about anything. He is as comfortable conversing with his co-workers as he is with criminals.
“If I know a person is a drug user, I will engage them and ask them how they became homeless and what started them down the drug use path,” he said. “I just try to get on their level and enhance communications by talking with them. Having a badge does not make me any better, so I never try to talk down to anyone.”
Bridges says he’s always been a go-getter and credits much of his success to the love, support, and gentle nudges he has routinely received from his parents and family.
“Jared always handles his duties in a positive manner, and he does so in a calm professional way,” says Salem Deputy Police Chief Danny Crouse. “He always goes above and beyond to create positive outcomes, and he does this while serving the department and the city with the highest standards possible.”
Bridges and his wife currently reside in Salem, and they are expecting their first child along with plenty of joyous crying later this summer.
-City of Salem Communications
