For Immediate Release

Date: Oct. 14, 2004

Board Honors Jackson County for Marine Enforcement

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol received top honors among marine programs statewide at a recent Oregon State Marine Board conference in Bend. The awards are for service during the 2004 boating season.

Jackson County Marine Deputy Jimmy Gyllenskog was honored as the Officer of the Year, the most prestigious personal award in Oregon marine enforcement duty. Dep. Gyllenskog was honored for his efforts at keeping intoxicated boat operators off the water, citing 22 individuals for Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants in 2004. Jackson County’s prowess in BUII enforcement is long-standing – former Jackson County marine officer Joe Puckett was long-known as the “human breathalyzer” for his skill at citing intoxicated boat operators. Puckett is now a captain with Jackson County Sheriff’s Dept.

Also from Jackson County, Deputy Tom Turk was honored as Oregon’s Marine Investigator of the Year, and the marine program was honored with a certificate of appreciation for its work in boat theft investigation.

The Jackson County marine program was honored with the Program of the Year award for the second year in a row. Marine Board Law Enforcement Program Manager Bill Rydblom said their effectiveness as a marine program is unsurpassed. “This continues to be an excellent program and provides top-level service to the boaters of Jackson County,” said Rydblom. “Individually and as a team, they excel at marine law enforcement. It is a model program.”

Other awards announced during the meeting include: Top Seasonal Deputy, Seasonal Program to Brad Maesner, Deschutes County; Top Seasonal Deputy, Year-round Program to Dep. Jessica Harkin, Multnomah County; Rookie of the Year to Dep. Jon Bock, Lane County; Trooper of the Year to Sr. Trooper Marshall Maher, NW District Oregon State Police; Award of Excellence to Sgt. Marc Heckathorn, Jefferson County; Special Award to Lt. Steve Lane, OSP NW Region Manager; Program Manager of the Year to Lt. Monte Reiser, Multnomah County; Most Improved Program to Multnomah County; Seasonal Program of the Year award to Polk County; Tom Rice Instructor Award to Dep. Ernie Fields, Josephine County.