| The OSMB News |
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| Multnomah County Marine Program Honored with Several Awards |
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For Immediate Release - 10/21/09
The Oregon State Marine Board honored marine law enforcement officers from around the state for their outstanding performance and contributions during the 2009 boating season at their annual post-season conference on October 13, in Bend.
The Multnomah County River Patrol was recognized for two life saving awards, an outstanding volunteer, and for the Program of the Year award, the Marine Board’s highest honor.
On December 10, 2008, Deputies Ken Yohe and Ron Osborn were escorting the Christmas Ship parade on the Columbia River when they received a call from the Portland Police Department that a car was located unoccupied about mid-span on the 205 bridge. The Police Department believed there was a person who had jumped into the river. Once the Deputies arrived on-scene, they located a male victim in the water close to the bridge pillar. The Deputies were able to maneuver the boat and successfully deploy a throw bag to the victim, who was barely able to wrap the line around his arm due to the effects of cold water immersion. The victim’s extremities had already gone numb. The Deputies were able to board the victim onto the patrol boat and finally released him to emergency medical services on shore. The victim suffered only minor injuries, but had he been submerged for much longer, he may have succumbed to hypothermia.
On February 10, 2009, Deputies Steve Dangler and Kevin McAfee were dispatched to Sheppard’s Dell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. A call came in as a “stand-off” between a mental subject and deputies and the subject was believed to be armed. After a tense climb up the steep and dangerous terrain, Deputies Dangler and McAfee reached the uncooperative subject. A line was secured along the slope and the slow descent began. At one point, the subject fell four feet into chest-deep water and was forced under by the current. Fortunately for the subject, both Deputies had recently completed swift water rescue training and were able to retrieve the subject from the waterfall and assist him back to safety. The subject suffered minor injuries.
The Multnomah County River Patrol is also fortunate to have an outstanding volunteer, John Zeman, who contributed 910 hours to the River Patrol. “We hear he has quite a talent for fixing things, and keeps the repair specialist on his toes,” said Bill Rydblom, Law Enforcement Manager for the Marine Board. “It goes to show that it takes a lot of highly skilled and dedicated individuals to have a well-tuned marine program.
In addition to being staffed with exceptional law enforcement officers and staff, the Multnomah County River Patrol tallied impressive results on the water during the 2009 boating season. Collectively, Marine Deputies conducted 3,903 boat examination reports, issued 750 citations for boating violations and 1,273 warnings, conducted 261 hull identification inspections, arrested eight individuals for Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants (BUII). The River Patrol also conducted five boater education classes teaching 171 students. Deputies also completed six stolen motor/boat reports and recovered one. “The River Patrol set out to make a difference out on the water and make it safer for everybody, and their numbers show the value behind what they do,” added Rydblom.
Other awards presented during the conference included: Most Improved Yearly Program to Josephine County; Most Improved Seasonal Program to Morrow County; Program of the Year –Seasonal to Polk County; Education Award to, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office; Education Award –Seasonal Program to Washington County; Officer of the Year to Deputy Daren Krag, Klamath County; Seasonal Officer of the Year to Deputy Jerry Roley, Washington County Sheriff’s Office; Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants Enforcement to Deputy Jason Denton, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office; Oregon State Police Trooper of the Year to Senior Trooper Marshall Maher, OSP NW Region; Program Manager of the Year to Sergeant Cliff Harold, Lane County Sheriff’s Office; Program Manager of the Year -Seasonal to Deputy Adam Robb, Baker County Sheriff’s Office; Special Instructor Award to Deputy Steve Fandry, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Tom Turk, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Dean Perske, Southwest Region OSP and Senior Trooper Brad Bennett, Southwest Region OSP; Rookie of the Year, Deputy Ken Berry, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; and Program Administration Award of Excellence to Clatsop County and Coos County Sheriff’s Offices.
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