| OSMB News |
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| Thursday, October 26, 2006 |
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Oregon State Police Honored for Service to Boaters
For Immediate Release
Oregon State Police Marine Officers received several awards from the Oregon State Marine Board for service toOregon ’s boaters. The awards were announced at a recent meeting in Bend.
Sr. Trooper Marshall Maher, of the Oregon State Police Oakridge office, received two awards: The Trooper of the Year award was shared this year by his brother, Trooper Martin Maher, stationed out of the Cottage Grove office. “Both brothers demonstrate a serious competitive drive, but the boaters of Oregon are the ones that benefit,” said Bill Rydblom, Law Enforcement Manager for the Marine Board. This award recognizes outstanding performance in the area of boat examinations, BUII enforcement, public education, field training, support and promotion of boating safety, and cooperation with the Marine Board. “Both were neck-and-neck throughout the season, and worked incredibly hard. They are both equally deserving of recognition,” Rydblom adds.
Sr. Trooper Maher was also honored with the Special Instructor Award. For the last decade, Sr. Trooper Maher has served as an instructor for the law enforcement academy as well as whitewater, drift boat and jet boat courses. Sr. Trooper Maher is retiring from his role as an instructor after this season. “His skills and talents as an instructor in the classroom and on the water will be missed.” Rydblom added.
Three Oregon State Police Troopers received awards ad standing ovations for several life saving situations this season.
Troopers Adam Turnbo and Andrew Goffrier of the Fish and Wildlife Division were on patrol on the Willamette River about nine miles downstream from Independence. The Troopers came upon an overturned canoe with three people in the water, holding on the best they could. The water temperature was about 40°F, with a swift current, in choppy, deep water. By the time the Troopers were able to get to the vessel; one of the canoeists slipped away from the canoe and was struggling to survive. The Troopers were able to rescue the canoeists, determine they were hypothermic and called for emergency medical service to meet them at the Independence Boat Ramp. The Troopers credited the survival of these three people to the life jackets they were wearing. “A person immersed in such cold water may only have 15-minutes before being rendered unconscious. The quick, purposeful and professional actions taken by Troopers Goffrier and Turnbo directly resulted in saving these three boaters,” Rydblom adds.
Trooper Carla Urbigkeit, from the Newport patrol office, also received recognition for her life-saving efforts when Multnomah County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Shults suffered a heart attack after completing a pool exercise during the Marine Board’s Law Enforcement Academy. Trooper Urbigkeit monitored his pulse while another officer, Deputy Joseph Tarmichael, administered CPR. Both Trooper Urbigkeit and Deputy Tarmichael worked together to administer the defibrillator that helped the start Lt. Shults’ heart. “Carla held his hand and kept talking to him, encouraging him to hang on,” said Tony Van Meter, Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Marine Board. “She was incredibly poised during the entire situation.”
Other awards announced during the conference include: Most Improved Yearly Program to Marion County; Most Improved Seasonal Program to Crook County; Seasonal Program of the Year to Polk County; Education Award to Marion County; Education Award –Seasonal Program, to Deputy Mark Jubitz, Hood River County; Officer of the Year to Deputy Steve Dangler, Multnomah County; Seasonal Officer of the Year to Roger Pearce, Wasco County; BUII Enforcement to Deputy Paul Vitus, Lane County, Deputy Jimmy Gyllenskog, and Ian Lance, Jackson County, and Deputy David Zahn, Marion County; Tom Rice Instructor of the Year to Deputy Pete Wood, Douglas County; Manager of the Year to Sergeant Russ Wright, Crook County and Sergeant Tim Steele, Marion County; Program Administration Award of Excellence to Clackamas, Josephine and Sherman Counties.
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