[OSMB-News] News Release -Multnomah County Marine Program Honored with Several Top Awards

[Ashley Massey]

For Immediate Release	Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 

Multnomah County Marine Program Honored with Several Top Awards 

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.

For pictures of the law enforcement award recipients, visit
www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/BoatLaws/news/2009LEPostSeason/2009LEPostSeason.shtml.
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Ashley A. Massey
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
503-378-8587 ext. 82623
ashley.massey at state.or.us
www.boatoregon.com
www.twitter.com/marineboard

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