[OSMB-News] News Release -Marine Law Enforcement Recognized for Exceptional Service to Boaters, Life Saving Efforts

Wed Oct 25 15:01:14 PDT 2017

For Immediate Release                          Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Marine Law Enforcement Recognized for Exceptional Service to Boaters, Life Saving Efforts

The Oregon State Marine Board recognized marine law enforcement officers from Klamath, Malheur, Coos, and Benton County Sheriff's Offices for their marine law enforcement efforts during 2017. The recognition occurred during the Marine Board's annual post-season conference, held in Redmond on October 16, 17.  The Marine Board honors sheriff's marine deputies and state police troopers each year with recognition of their life saving efforts and exceptional service awards.

Officer of the Year Award

[cid:image002.jpg at 01D34DA2.164D1EF0]Klamath County Deputy Ronald McKinney was recognized as the Officer of the Year for his many years of service as both a volunteer with Small Boat Rescue and as an employee of the Marine Division.  Deputy McKinney helped solidify the success of the marine unit with his well-rounded skills as boating safety instructor for the general public and county schools; boat operation and equipment maintenance, and volunteer coordination for training, hazard mitigation, buoy maintenance and outreach events.  Klamath County Cpl. Daren Krag said, "Without Deputy McKinney's tireless efforts, Klamath County's Marine Division would not be nearly as efficient and effective in serving our community."  Nominees for the Officer of the Year award must exhibit exceptional service to Oregon's boaters in the past year, demonstrating selfless commitment and outstanding performance in promoting boating safety, passionate and effective enforcement of boating safety laws, effective involvement in public water safety education, efficient use of available resources, excellent program management, great partnering, committed instruction, and boat operation skills.  "Deputy McKinney well deserved this distinguished recognition," said Randy Henry, Marine Board Boating Safety Program manager.

Life Saving Awards

The fall and winter storms created exceptionally dangerous situations for boaters and marine law enforcement who frequently put themselves in the line of danger to save others.  There were several rescues conducted by marine law enforcement who deserve recognition for their life saving efforts.  Three rescue events were recognized involving five deputies.

[cid:image004.jpg at 01D34DA2.164D1EF0]On November 6, 2016 in the early morning, two brothers launched their boat to go duck hunting.  The victim's brother went to park their vehicle without realizing the boat motor was in reverse gear while the victim tried holding the boat from shore. The victim lost his footing but managed to hang on the side of the boat as it headed into deeper water.  The older brother returned to find the boat circling down river with his brother hanging to the outside.  He called 9-1-1, who alerted Deputy Wade Holom, Malheur County, of the situation.    Deputy Holom's boat was a distance away, so he borrowed a jet boat from someone he knew nearby.  Deputy Holom launched the borrowed boat and headed more than ½ mile downstream to find the youth fully dressed in waders, still hanging on the side of the boat.  Shaking, cold and within seconds of losing his grip, Deputy Holom boarded and tied up to the boat, turned off the motor for safety and was able to pull the youth aboard.  He then had to work quickly to avoid drifting into obstructions immediately downstream.  Holom tried starting the victim's boat but the jet pump was plugged.  Just as he was dangerously close to an obstruction, Holom was able to get the motor to start.  The exercise of starting and stopping the motor every few hundred feet to clean out the jet pump added another element of risk, on top of navigating back to the boat ramp with the hypothermic victim and trying to keep him alert.  The two finally reached the shore where an ambulance was waiting.  "Thanks to the quick thinking and operator skill of Deputy Holom, a young man is alive and safe," said Henry.

In another incident on February 9 around 6:30 pm, flood waters overtook a man in a pick up truck who attempted to drive through an area without realizing the water level was as deep as it was.  The truck was quickly swept off the road by strong current, pinning the truck against trees and fencing.  Emergency responders were called and fire personnel attempted rescue from their vehicles, but were unable to get close enough, safely.  By this time, water started to fill the cab of the truck and the victim opened his window to climb on to the bed of the truck.  Within minutes, the truck started to bounce up and down in the current.  Roughly thirty minutes later, Deputy Doug Strain and Sergeant Will Coleman arrived on the scene using a drift boat, navigating in the dark through the debris-filled river upstream from the victim's location.  Upon arrival, the strong current pushed the patrol boat into the trees in front of the truck.  Deputies Strain and Coleman secured the bow of the boat using a rope system so the boat could be freed from the trees and belayed down to the truck to retrieve the victim.  Using the lines and a lot of muscle, the deputies were able to throw a life jacket to the victim and safely bring him on board the boat.  Deputy Strain and Sergeant Coleman have served as marine patrol instructors for the Marine Board, and have extensive knowledge and experience with rigging methods using knots and with whitewater rescue.  "The outcome could have been tragic for the victim had it not been for the application, timing and expertise of Deputy Strain and Sergeant Coleman in this situation," said Henry.

[cid:image006.jpg at 01D34DA2.164D1EF0]On June 24, 2017, Benton County Marine Deputies Marshall Dean and Randall Tugwater happened to be at the right place at the right time on the Willamette River  near Willamette Park in Corvallis.  A group of college students were floating in innertubes.  One of the students was visibly intoxicated and jumped off the tube into the water, which caught the Deputies' attention.  Immediately, the victim started having problems staying afloat.  Two others in the group tried to help the victim back onto the innertube but were unsuccessful.  Deputies Dean and Tugwater saw the group struggling.  Deputy Tugwell dropped anchor near shore and Deputy Dean dove in.  The victim was unwilling to board the boat, but could not climb the boulder-lined shoreline, either.  Through sheer muscle and determination, Deputy Dean was able to lift the victim onto the boat's swim deck.  The victim appeared to be in shock so the deputies informed dispatch to have an ambulance meet them at the Crystal Lake Boat Ramp.  The victim was met by medical personnel and taken to the hospital.  "If the deputies had not been in the area, this incident could have ended tragically," said Henry.  Deputy Tugwell and Deputy Dean were recognized for having the presence of mind to check on the innertubers and recognize their need for help.  Thanks to their efforts, tragedy was averted.

During the 2017 recreational boating season, the Marine Board changed the focus of enforcement from administrative infractions to risk intervention; stopping boaters after observing behavior that could lead to an accident.  The objective of this effort is to have one-on-one conversations with boaters to educate them on marine laws and safe behavior.  In some cases, boaters were issued warnings; in others, citations.  The life-saving recognition of the above marine law enforcement officers were teachable moments for the people involved.  Most injuries and accidents are preventable with proper knowledge, planning and preparation.  During the 2017 boating season, citations included unsafe and/or reckless operation, riding on decks, bows, gunwales, operator inattention (improper lookout), and slow-no wake infractions.  Boating under the influence of intoxicants and distracted operation are leading causes of recreational boating accidents and fatalities in Oregon.  Life jackets are important in preventing common accidents from becoming tragedies.

For more information about the Marine Board and the marine law enforcement program, visit www.boatoregon.com<http://www.boatoregon.com>.
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Pictured from left to right:

1.      Officer of the year, Klamath County Deputy Ronald McKinney

2.      Marine Board Chair Val Early (Brookings) with Malheur County Deputy Brad Holom

3.      Boating Safety Program Manager Randy Henry, Marine Board Chair Val Early and Coos County Sergeant Will Coleman

4.      Marine Board Chair Val Early and Benton County Deputy Marshall Dean

Ashley A. Massey
Legislative Coordinator
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
[EmailOSMB_logos_cmyk_300dpi]

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