For Immediate Release

Date: Oct. 15, 2003

Board Honors Marion County Marine Patrol

The Oregon State Marine Board has honored the Marion County Sheriffs Marine Patrol program for their water safety education efforts. Marion County Sgt. Tim Steele was also honored for his management of the program. The board announced the awards during an annual meeting in Bend on Oct. 1.

"The Education Award is a recognition of efforts to get into schools to give students an import water safety message," said Bill Rydblom, Law Enforcement Program Manager for the Marine Board. "The information is especially important in Oregon where rivers run swift and waters run cold, even during the warm summer months. We really believe that these officers save lives by giving our youth an important message about being safe in and near the water.” Rydblom said that Marion County marine officers reached 14,388 students during the 2002-03 school year.

Sgt. Tim Steele was honored with the Program Manager of the Year award for his overall management of the Marion County Marine Patrol Program. The award focuses on successful and consistent communication with the Marine Board, management of contracts and business practices. “Sgt. Steele worked hard to keep us abreast of his program’s activities, to file reports promptly and carefully manage his contracts and budgets,” said Rydblom. “That attention to detail helps us all do a better job serving the state’s boaters.”

Other awards given by the board included: 2003 Marine Program of the Year – Full Time Program, Jackson County; 2003 Marine Program of the Year – Seasonal Program, Benton County; 2003 Marine Officer of the year, full-time program, Deputy Tom Turk, Jackson County; Marine Theft Award, Deputy Doug Olson, Clackamas County; Most Improved Program, Coos County; Rookie of the Year, Dep. James Gyllenskog, Jackson County; 2003 BUII Enforcement Award, Dep. James Gyllenskog, Jackson County.

In addition, Life Save Awards were given to Deputy Scott McDowell, Multnomah County; Dep. Paul Fournier, Tillamook County; Ruben Descloux and Josh Walker, Netarts-Oceanside Volunteer Fire Dept.; Deputies Den Bender and Tim Allinson, Polk County; and Deputies Sam Forney and Jerry Saltos, Crook County.

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