RIVERDALE -- Sgt. Greg Bogert, an 18-year veteran of the Riverdale Police Department who saved a man from jumping off the Route 287 bridge Monday, isn't used to receiving praise for his efforts.

Bogert now finds himself thrust in the spotlight with the release of the dashcam video from the save, but that was the furthest thing on his mind at the time of the rescue.

Pulling up to the scene, Bogert said, "I didn't have time to think."

The sergeant responded to Route 287 near Exit 53 at 11:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a man walking toward the ledge of the bridge. As he was responding, more reports came in about the man saying he was jumping in front of cars on Route 287.

When Bogert pulled up, he saw the man walking in front of a vehicle to the shoulder -- as if he had just tried to walk in front of it. The sergeant said the man was in obvious distress so he knew he had to be calm, but he did crack open his door because he was afraid the man was going to sprint for the edge.

As he looked at the man and tried to calm him down, Bogert said he knew the man was going to run because his gaze was "focused on the edge of the bridge."

Bogert immediately took off after the man and was able to stop him before he vaulted over the edge.

"Unfortunately, I dropped the f-bomb because I didn't know I was going to catch him," the sergeant said of the expletives caught on the recording.

The man, who was a missing person out of Lancaster, Pa., was turned over to the State Police and taken to a local hospital for psychological evaluation. Despite yelling during the incident that his family was dead, Lt. James MacIntosh said, that doesn't appear to be the case.

Bogert said he's overwhelmed by the outpouring of responses and thanks he's received over this rescue and has been trying to personally respond to each one.

"It's just incredible what's happening," he said. "We're not used to thank yous."

Before this save, Bogert said, he's received a handful of thank you letters over the years which he's hung up in his office for when he "need(s) them the most."

Among his fellow officers, he's also received praise as his colleagues hung up a picture of the superhero, "The Flash," on the door of his locker.

More than anything, Bogert said, he's glad he was able to make sure no innocent motorist on Route 287 or the Hamburg Turnpike struck the suicidal man.

"I'm glad the way it turned it out," he said.

It's not the first time Bogert has been involved with a life-or-death rescue. In Dec. 2010, Bogert responded to a borough home and was handed a baby who wasn't breathing but he was able to help resuscitate the infant. He was recognized with a life-saving award for that rescue.

Cop saves man from jumping off Route 287 bridge in Riverdale 8 Gallery: Cop saves man from jumping off Route 287 bridge in Riverdale

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.