Bend PD officer honored for rescuing woman from canal

The Bend Police Department on Thursday congratulated Officer Kyle Voll for recently receiving the Life Saving Award from the Oregon Peace Officers Association.

“We are very proud of the quality of service Officer Voll provides to the community of Bend,” Lt. Clint Burleigh said in an announcement of the award, given Nov. 6 in Grand Ronde.

Voll responded to the Central Oregon Irrigation District canal near Northeast Purcell Boulevard on July 10 th around 9:26 p.m., Burleigh said.

Two Bend community members had come across a 57-year-old woman in the irrigation canal, yelling for help. One of the citizens called 911 while the other made an attempt to help the woman.

Voll arrived at the canal within minutes of the call to 911. He found the citizen was fatigued and unable to remove the victim from the canal.

When Voll arrived, he found the canal was moving swiftly and the woman was stuck in the water. He was able to pull her from the water and onto the bank, where she was treated by medical staff.

The woman was transported to St. Charles Bend and survived the incident, Burleigh said. It was later learned this female had dementia and based on her medical conditions, she had fallen into the water 200 yards upstream before the community members found her.

Burleigh said Voll prevented the woman from being further swept downstream and possibly drowning.

“We are grateful to have Officer Voll serving the community as part of the Bend Police Department,” Burleigh added.