NYPD Detective Who Rescued Tiger Saves Suicidal Woman

Emergency Service Detective Marty Duffy, a New York City police officer already known for a daring 2003 rescue of a tiger named Ming from an East Harlem apartment, has again demonstrated his de-escalation skills by saving a woman threatening to end her life. The incident occurred on October 6th on a pier at West 125th Street and the Hudson River.

Duffy and his partner, Officer John Medina, responded to a 911 call about a woman in distress on the pier. According to Duffy, the woman stated she was suicidal and felt compelled to harm herself. Medina initiated a conversation, attempting to get closer by citing the wind as a reason he couldn't hear her. As Duffy moved in, the woman became aware of his presence. He then spoke to her, employing a similar tactic to distract her and create an opportunity for intervention.

"So she turns around and sees me and I say the same thing," Duffy recalled. "And she kind of looks down and she’s distracted. I’m like… it’s now or never, and I kind of gave John the hi sign and I grabbed her and then John came over and grabbed her with me."

During the interaction, as the officers were taking her into custody with the help of other arriving officers, Duffy asked the woman what she had in her pocket. The officers successfully lifted the woman over the pier's railing, preventing her from falling into the Hudson River.

Duffy described the situation as requiring critical thinking and seizing the moment to save a life. "So, it worked. It worked out great for her because she didn’t end up in the Hudson," he stated.

Duffy first gained public attention for his role in the rescue of Ming, a 400-pound Bengal tiger, from an East Harlem apartment on October 4, 2003. At the time, Duffy was a relatively new member of the Emergency Service Unit. The operation involved complex tactical decisions, including lowering Duffy from a higher floor of the building to the fifth floor to tranquilize the tiger.

"I was lowered from the 7th floor down to the 5th floor," Duffy said. "I heard him at one point. … I see him, and the window’s ajar because of the child gates. That’s my time."

He recalled his internal monologue during the tense moments: "Don’t embarrass yourself. You’re brand new to the unit… Don’t miss." Duffy successfully tranquilized Ming, and the tiger was subsequently transported to an animal sanctuary in Ohio. Ming died of natural causes in 2019.

Duffy, who has been with the NYPD for nearly three decades and follows in his father's footsteps as a detective, highlighted the demanding and varied nature of the work performed by ESU Truck 2, which covers Manhattan north of 59th Street. "We have everything," Duffy said. "We have our perp jobs, we have our EDP (Emotionally Disturbed Person) jobs, we have our water jobs. We’re a busy truck."