More than 15 years after a Las Vegas police officer made a life-saving decision, he reunited with the veteran he helped save.
"I thank you so much for saving my life," said veteran Stephanie Winfield.
"I can't thank you enough for reaching out to me," said 13 Action News Crime and Safety Expert, retired Las Vegas police Lt. Randy Sutton.
The incident happened in October of 2001 at Embassy Suites on Paradise Road, near Twain Avenue.
At the time, Sutton was a sergeant patrolling the streets. He recalled getting a call about a suicidal woman on a balcony.
"This is one of those moments when the way you talk to someone can either mean life or death," Sutton said.
Officers arrived on scene. Winfield was holding what appeared to be a real gun.
"I had been drinking," she said. "I had gotten really, really tired of all the hurt and pain I was feeling and I didn't know how to deal with it."
The gun was fake. She said it was part of her plan.
"Suicide by police because I was too much of a coward to do it myself," she said.
"The nightmare here is that suddenly a gun is produced," said Sutton.
However, he realized the gun was not real.
"He came closer to me and after that all I remember is getting down," said Winfield, "losing it."
13 Action News was there as the two reunited for the first time at the scene.
"It's like it was yesterday," said Winfield.
Winfield has since turned her life around. She said she had been searching for the kind officer for years. One day, she spotted him on 13 Action News.
"When I saw him on TV, I was like that's the guy I have been wanting to find," she said.
Winfield sent Sutton a message on Facebook and the rest is history.
The retired officer and veteran were both in tears Friday afternoon.
"I made the right career choice being a cop," Sutton said. "I made a difference."
