For Immediate Release

Date: Oct. 15, 2003

Board Honors Marine Officers’ Heroism

Quick response, proper training, putting an accident victim’s needs in front of their own – the Oregon State Marine Board has honored emergency service and law enforcement workers for acts of heroism on the water in 2003. The awards were announced at an annual meeting in Bend Oct. 1.

“These are instances where these people clearly saved a life,” said Bill Rydblom, Law Enforcement Program Manager for the Oregon State Marine Board. “Their service to people recreating in our state’s waters proved heroic. It is appropriate that we single them out and honor them with the ‘Life Save Award’ for the risk they took in an attempt to save lives.”

Tillamook County Sheriff Deputy Paul Fournier and Netarts/Oceanside Fire Dept. Volunteers Ruben Descloux and Josh Walker: These three individuals responded to the mouth of Netarts Bay on Jan. 11 where a boat had reportedly capsized, throwing its three occupants in the water. Entering the water and braving 20-foot surf, the three used personal watercraft to locate the victims in the water and bring them to shore safely. The three victims told officers that they would have perished in the heavy surf without the rescue.

· Polk County Sheriff Deputies Dean Bender and Tim Allinson: On Sunday, June 29, while conducting boat inspections on the Willamette River near Wheatland Ferry, Deputies Bender and Allinson heard screams downriver. They responded and found four individuals swimming the river – three of the four needed help, but one particularly was panicked, struggling and going under water. Deputy Bender positioned the boat while Deputy Allinson threw a life ring to two of the victims, then reached into the water to recover the third person who was sinking.

· Crook County Deputy Sam Forney and Jerry Saltos: Deputies Forney and Saltos received a call for help that a sailboat had capsized on Prineville Reservoir. Fortunately they were already at the reservoir. They found one person struggling to stay afloat and a female trapped in the rigging under the sailboat. The deputies brought the male on board, then cut the woman from the rigging of the boat. When they brought her aboard, they discovered she was not breathing and administered CPR for five minutes, eventually reviving her. A witness reported to the Marine Board that the deputies “didn’t just save the woman, they brought her back to life.”

· Not all rescue attempts are successful, but they are heroic nonetheless. On July 30, Multnomah County Deputy Scott McDowell was enjoying a day off with his family on the Columbia River when he heard cries for help. He responded and helped recover a young child lost underwater for 15 minutes. He worked tirelessly to revive the child but too much time had passed. He related the experience to local media with a persuasive plea for parents to put life jackets on their children when playing near water and watch them closely.

“Each of these stories reminds us how important well-trained emergency service and law enforcement workers are, and how important it is to equip them and keep them in the field where their services are needed,” said Rydblom. “These officers put others’ safety ahead of their own and took a significant risk. We thank them for their dedication.”

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