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| For Immediate Release |
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Marine Board Honors OSP Troopers with Life Saving Award
The Oregon State Marine Board honored law enforcement officers from across the state for their heroic actions at their annual post season conference, October 17, inBend
From the Oregon State Police, Sergeant Christopher Allori and Senior Trooper Roger Edwards received the Oregon State Marine Board’s Law Enforcement Life Saving Award for their professional and immediate intervention in a life threatening situation.
Trooper Roger Edwards accepting the Life Saving Award.
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It was May 17, 2007, when a man was taking a stroll along a trail on Elk Island thought he heard a gunshot blast in his direction. Panicked, he ran into the Willamette River.
Sergeant Allori and Senior Trooper Roger Edwards were in their patrol boat near Elk Island when Allori’s eye caught the sight of something near the buoy. The Troopers moved in for a closer look.
Allori and Edwards realized that a man was clawing at a buoy, fighting against the cold current and attempting to climb on top of it. The troopers threw a flotation device to the victim, but the man was disoriented and overwhelmed with paranoia. He refused help, fearing the troopers might shoot him.
Within minutes, Allori and Edwards assured the man there was nothing to fear and they were there to help him. Using all their might, the troopers were able to retrieve the man from the icy water, and lift him into their patrol vessel. The man was cold, shivering, disoriented and exhausted.
Allori and Edwards quickly called for medical assistance and were met EMS personnel at the Milwaukie boat ramp. Once at the hospital, it was determined that the man was hypothermic, with a core body temperature was 92º F. If the man had been immersed for a few minutes longer, he would have slipped into unconsciousness and drowned.
The purposeful and professional actions of Sergeant Allori and Senior Trooper Edwards saved this man’s life. For their efforts, Allori and Edwards were awarded the Oregon State Marine Board’s Law Enforcement Life Saving Award.
Other awards presented during the conference included: Most Improved Yearly Program to OSP -NW Region; Most Improved Seasonal Program to Yamhill County; Program of the Year, OSP –NW Region; Program of the Year –Seasonal to Benton County; Education Award to Klamath County; Education Award –Seasonal Program, to Washington County; Officer of the Year to Deputy Steve Dangler, Multnomah County; Seasonal Officer of the Year to Deputy Jerry Roley, Washington County; Rookie of the Year, Deputy Nathan Thompson, Clackamas County; BUII Enforcement to Deputy Paul Vitus; Trooper of the Year to Senior Trooper Marshall Maher, OSP Oakridge and Trooper Martin Maher, OSP Cottage Grove; Tom Rice Instructor of the Year to Bernie Altishin, OSMB Cadre; Special Instructor Award to Deputy Jim Drew, Clark County, Washington; Manager of the Year to Lt. Pat Rowland, Jackson County; Program Administration Award of Excellence to Clatsop and Lane Counties; Volunteer of the Year to Bernie Altishin, OSMB Instructor Cadre and Paul Cody, Deschutes County.
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