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BOULDER CITY, Nev. – On Aug. 22, 2022, David Arend was driving home from work. As he reached his exit, he noticed a distraught man standing on the edge of the overpass high above the busy highway. Arend says he felt compelled to pull over and go to him.

“I wasn't sure what I was going to say, but I just felt like I was being driven to do this,” said Arend. “So, I pulled over, got out of my truck, walked through the traffic. I walk up to him, you know, I just started talking with him. I said, ‘what's going on?’ He just kept shaking his head and he kept saying, ‘I'm done’.”

Arend engaged the man in conversation, assuring him that this moment wasn’t the end. As the two men exchanged names and began talking, the distraught man held a photo.

“It was a picture of his son, a little three-year-old boy,” said Arend, as his eyes teared up. “So, I said, ‘This isn’t your legacy. We’re here for a reason. You’re here for a reason. Let’s make sure you’re here for that young man.’”

Arend’s words resonated with the man. Eventually, they made their way off the overpass where first responders were waiting to take the man to get help at a nearby hospital. By listening, empathizing, and offering hope, Arend prevented a tragedy that day.

For his remarkable display of courage and compassion, Arend, who is deputy director of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Basin Region, was awarded the prestigious Medal of Valor by the Department of the Interior. The commendation recognizes his selfless intervention that prevented a man from taking his own life.

Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton presented the medal in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., as Arend’s wife, Trista, and other family and coworkers looked on.

 “It’s no surprise that Dave would step forward to save the life of a fellow human,” said Touton. “His actions that day speak volumes about his character. I’ve worked with Dave for many years, and every day he demonstrates strength, dedication, courage and unwavering compassion for others.”

“Dave leads with compassion and doesn’t hesitate when it’s time to take action,” said Jaci Gould, director of the Lower Colorado Basin Region. “His ability to connect with people and establish trust are part of his character. He is someone you can depend on to do the right thing.”

Arend appreciates the significance of the award but remains humble about the impact of his actions that day. While he downplays his role in what happened, the encounter became a lifeline. His actions exemplify the essence of valor — not just in the face of danger, but in the face of human suffering.

“I don't feel like I did anything other than what was the right thing to do,” he said. “I don't feel courageous. I don't feel like I did anything extraordinary. I just feel like I did what needed to be done.”

Arend’s heroic act underscores the urgent need to address mental health and suicide prevention. According to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, the state’s suicide rate is higher than the national average. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that suicide rates across the United States have increased steadily over the past two decades.

“When somebody takes their life, I always wonder what puts them in that situation where they see that this is the only option they have,” said Arend. “I wonder what we can do to change that. And I don't have all the answers, but I think just to be there for other people and listen to what they have to say matters. Because you don't know their story. You don't know what put them in that situation.”

When others hear his story, Arend says they share their experiences and wish someone would have done what he did.

“I've had people come up to me and they'll tell me about somebody in their family. And they’ll say, maybe if just one person had stepped up and talked to them, that maybe the outcomes would have been different.” 

As Arend prepares to retire after four decades of federal service, including twenty years in the U.S. Navy, he reflects on his legacy. “I can get spun up at times,” he admits, “but I hope people remember that I was willing to help others, that I was kind, that I tried to do the right thing.”

Arend’s story reminds us that compassion and connection can alter the course of a life, simply by being there for one another, by listening, and by recognizing that sometimes, a single conversation can save a life.

If someone you know is in crisis call or text 988 or go to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline website.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits.