Officer Tanya Turnbow, Tooele City Police Department

The following nomination letter was written by Tooele Police Chief Ron Kirby.

Officer Tanya Turnbow has taken it upon herself to do all that she can in the area of suicide prevention. Officer Turnbow is constantly looking for opportunities to reach out with her prevention efforts in any way possible. She teaches QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) throughout the community. Her reach is extended by partnering with CTC (Communities That Care), the Health Department, the Tooele County School District, and others.

Recently a man came to the Tooele City Council meeting and expressed a very emotional and heart-felt thank you for saving his son’s life because of Tooele City’s (i.e. Officer Turnbows) efforts in suicide prevention. I can get you his information and I am sure that he would be willing to do an interview.

Officer Turnbow also serves as Tooele County’s primary medical examiner responding to many suicides throughout the county. She often meets with family members following a suicide in her capacity as a medical examiner and she has been greatly affected by her experiences. She in now also a trainer in “Suicide Postvention.”

With support from the Health Department and Tooele City Officer Turnbow recently attended the National Conference on Suicidology where she was possibly the only police officer in attendance.