Spokane man, Idaho troopers to be honored for helping despondent women

A Spokane man and two Idaho State Police troopers will be recognized Friday for their roles in helping intervene during separate incidents involving despondent and possibly suicidal women last year.

The ISP will award its Certificate of Appreciation for Heroism to Dwight Bailey of Spokane. Bailey was driving along Interstate 90 in Post Falls last June when he spotted a woman in distress on the freeway near the Pleasant View Road.

“She was going to jump out in front of a semi ultimately,” said Melissa Stroh, the ISP’s regional communications center coordinator in Coeur d’Alene. “And he pulled over and (repeatedly) kept physically dragging her out of the lane of travel so that she didn’t get hit by vehicles, until an officer was able to arrive and get her the medical attention she needed.”

Stroh said of Bailey, “He was the only one who stopped on scene. It was quite a lengthy time period he was out there with her. Not many people stop anymore and help people.”

A dispatcher recommended him for the honor. “She felt like he really went above and beyond and saved this female’s life,” Stroh said.

Bailey will receive the certificate in a ceremony at 11:45 a.m. Friday.

At 1 p.m. Friday the department will award two Silver Stars for Heroism to Troopers Michael Lininger and Kirk Mattila, both based in Shoshone County, for how they handled a suicidal woman last May.

The troopers wrested a knife from the despondent and suicidal woman “at great risk to their own safety,” the ISP said in a news release. “Both troopers sustained minor injuries during the incident and the women was unharmed.”

The Silver Star is the second highest award for heroism in the face of danger that may be presented to a sworn officer.