He received a Victoria Police Department Commendation for saving a Castlemaine man's life.

The 40-year-old, who retired from the police force in 2004, wrestled with the man on the edge of the West Gate Bridge after a Castlemaine to Altona car chase.

The man was trying to commit suicide.

"It's still fresh in the memory. It was a big deal," Mr Widdop said.

The incident began when the man was reported driving dangerously in Castlemaine. He was driving on footpaths and crashing into fences.

"I got involved because I was the only one in a four-wheel-drive," Mr Widdop said.

The pursuit led police through Daylesford and Ballan and then on to the Western Fwy heading to Melbourne.

"When we got to the bridge, I knew exactly what he was going to do," Mr Widdop said.

In a reminder of how close Widdop came to losing his own life, the Daylesford resident's baton fell over the edge of the bridge during the struggle.

"It was a balancing act between protecting him and protecting myself," he said.

"You'd never want to see someone die like that and you do all you can to stop it."

Mr Widdop, who was back at work the next day, said he felt privileged to be recognised almost six years after the incident.

"It's when you stop work that you start to think about it a lot more. I felt sorry for him because he was so desperate to jump."

Inspector Gerry Rudkins presented the award at Daylesford Police Station last Thursday.

Police believe the Castlemaine man has made significant improvements to his life since 2002.

The Victoria Police citation reads: "For displaying professionalism, dedication and courage in preventing a mentally disturbed male person from taking his own life by jumping from the West Gate Bridge in the evening of Tuesday, November 5, 2002."