For Immediate Release

Date: October 7, 2005

Multnomah County Marine Law Enforcement Program Honored

The Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) bestowed marine law enforcement awards to counties throughout the state at a recent meeting in Bend.

Multnomah County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott McDowell and Sergeant Todd Lautenbach received Public Safety Officer Life Saving Awards, for their actions on the Columbia River last December. Deputy McDowell and Sergeant Lautenbach rescued a man and woman from overturned kayaks. The officers were able to bring the woman back into the boat with a throw bag, and located the man on the crest of a swell one hundred yards away. After he was rescued, the man was quoted saying, “Thank you, you saved our lives today. If you hadn’t been there, we would have died.”

“These officers save lives through their daily actions,” said Bill Rydblom, Law Enforcement Program Manager for the OSMB. “Without them, boaters wouldn’t feel nearly as safe.”

Other awards announced during the meeting include: Award of Excellence: Seasonal Deputy in a Seasonal Program, to Deputy Brian McLeod, Washington County; Public Safety Officer Life Saving Award, to Deputy Joe Yazzalino and Deputy Brian McLeod, Washington County; Public Safety Officer Life Saving Award, to Senior Trooper Don Frerichs, Oregon State Police SW Region; Award of Excellence: Trooper of the Year, to Senior Trooper Marshall Maher, Oregon State Police NW region.

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