BANGOR — A Bangor police officer is being credited with saving the life of a despondent man threatening to jump off a bridge.

Police say Officer Derek Laflin responded to the Valley Avenue bridge at about 9:25 p.m. Sunday to reports of a man on the outer railing.

Laflin tried to negotiate with the man but he would not communicate. Officer Laflin backed away and then talked with the man before grabbing hold of the man and pulling him to safety.

The police report says Laflin’s actions were “decisive and clearly in good judgment.”

The man was taken to a hospital for evaluation. The man told Laflin that his girlfriend had left him and was taking their children.