Three DCSO deputies honored for life-saving efforts

Four Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office personnel were awarded a Lifesaving Award and Search and Rescue “Deputy of the Year” from the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association annual awards ceremony held recently at The Riverhouse.

Sgt. Deke DeMars, Deputy Daniel Graham and Deputy Grant Johnstone received a 2014 Life Saving Award for their efforts on May 31, 2014.

The sergeant and deputies responded to a motor vehicle crash involving a vehicle that had driven off the roadway and gone into a canal in the area of Hamehook Road and Pioneer Loop northeast of Bend.

When the deputies arrived, they found a female passenger leaning against the roof of a vehicle that was partially submerged.

Sgt. DeMars quickly pulled her out of the canal and learned the driver, Thomas Heywood, had been apparently swept away by the current of the water. He and the deputies began running down the adjacent canal road searching for Heywood. They located him approximately 300 yards away from the vehicle and attempted to grab him as he floated by, but narrowly missed him.

Heywood then traveled through approximately 800 feet of rapids, going under several times. He was becoming more distressed and was tiring as a result of the temperature of the water and the level of exertion.

One of the deputies located a folding ladder on property adjacent to the canal and the three then worked together to lower the ladder and hold it in place so that Heywood could grab it as he floated by. The three deputies then pulled Heywood out of the canal to safety.

OSSA also presented Search and Rescue Lieutenant Scott Shelton with the 2014 SAR Deputy of the Year Award.

Lt. Shelton over the past three years has not only shown his great work and leadership for Deschutes County but he has shown his leadership to the Search and Rescue Advisory Committee as well.

Scott has worked in Law Enforcement for 30 years, 17 of which were for Deschutes County and of those years 6 in the Special Services division. That division is responsible for Search and Rescue, Forest Patrol, Off Highway Vehicles and Emergency Services. He currently supervises 212 volunteers, 10 seasonal and 6 full time staff. Deschutes County has had over 200 search mission this year alone.

Lt. Shelton is also responsible for the “Take Care be Aware” program, which is presented to the public. He conducts security checks/recommendations for various county buildings, grant writing presentations for funding, and he also sits on several boards. Over the past three years here are some of his accomplishments with Search and Rescue Advisory Committee (SARAC).

Integration of partners from the Governor’s Task Force into SARAC.
Updated SARAC operating Guidelines
Approval of the Core Competency Document for all SAR personnel in the State of Oregon
Updated written exam and task book
Statewide approved ICS forms Mission Packet
Consolidation of region 1 & 2 for mission efficiency
And the Movement of a legislative concept for sustained SAR funding.