[OSMB-News] News Release - Marine Board Honors OSP Troopers with Life Saving Award

[Ashley MASSEY]

For Immediate Release	Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2007

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, in Bend.  

>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.

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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Media Note: Photos are available.  Please contact Ashley Massey if you
would like a digital photo.

Ashley A. Massey
Public Affairs Specialist
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
503-378-8587 ext. 82623
ashley.massey at state.or.us

"Go with the flow, and don't fight the current."