| OSMB News |
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| Date: October 24, 2006 |
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Polk County Marine Patrol Receives Special Honors
The Oregon State Marine Board has bestowed several top law enforcement awards to the Polk County Marine Patrol for service toOregon ’s boaters. The awards were announced during a recent meeting in Bend.
Two Polk County Deputies received recognition for saving a life on July 1, 2006. Deputy Dean Bender and Deputy Martin Powell were on patrol on the Willamette River near Wallace Marine Park in Salem, when they heard a loud splash near the Marion Street Bridge. As they approached from their patrol boat, they observed a person floating down river, calling for help. It was apparent the person fell from the 90-foot high bridge. Deputy Bender threw a flotation device to the person who complained of not being able to feel below the waist and appeared to be in severe pain. Deputy Bender was able to remove the person from the water and position the person onto the boat’s swim platform as Deputy Powell called for assistance from the Salem Police and Emergency Medical Services. “Had it not been for the quick and professional response and actions of both Deputy Bender and Deputy Powell, it is highly probable that this soul would have been lost to the waters of the Willamette,” said Bill Rydblom, Law Enforcement Program Manager for the Marine Board.
Polk County was also honored as Seasonal Program of the Year for cooperation with the Marine Board, community involvement, and support of statewide marine officer training. This program demonstrated exceptional efforts enforcing boating laws on the waters of Polk County.
Other awards announced during the conference include: Most Improved Yearly Program to Marion County; Most Improved Seasonal Program to Crook County; Education Award to Marion County; Officer of the Year to Deputy Steve Dangler, Multnomah County; Officer of the Year (Seasonal) to Deputy 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; 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 Deputy Pete Wood, Douglas County; Special Instructor Award to Senior Trooper Marshall Maher, OSP Oakridge; 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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