Oregon State Police from Portland Awarded

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - An Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division Sergeant and Senior Trooper will receive the Oregon State Police "Harold R. Berg Lifesaving Award" on October 1st.

The recognition involves the efforts of these officers who spotted a 34-year old exhausted man suffering from hypothermia, who was attempting to cling to a buoy in the middle of the Willamette River near Elk Rock Island in the Milwaukie area.

It happened on May 17th, 2007 at approximately 12:25 PM. OSP Sergeant Chris Allori, Senior Trooper Roger Edwards and a US fisheries agent were conducting a routine fisheries patrol on the Willamette River near Elk Rock Island. While operating the boat upstream, Sergeant Allori spotted a man in the water who appeared to be trying to grab hold of a buoy in the middle of the river. Motoring closer to the buoy they saw the man trying to grasp the buoy but he was unable to hold onto it. The man was wearing jeans, t-shirt, tennis shoes and had no life preserver or any other flotation device. Officers threw him a type four flotation cushion and pulled him onto the OSP patrol vessel.

The man was transported to the Milwaukie Boat Ramp where rescue personnel attended to him before transporting him to Milwaukie Providence Hospital. He reportedly had a core body temperature of 92 degrees upon his arrival at the hospital and was treated for hypothermia.

"There is no doubt that the man could have died from drowning once he was overcome by hypothermia or exhaustion," said OSP Superintendent Timothy McLain. "Their swift and timely actions undoubtedly prevented serious, if not fatal, consequences."

Sergeant Allori, age 42, is a 13 1/2 -year member of the Oregon State Police assigned as a Fish & Wildlife Division supervisor at the Portland Area Command Office.

Senior Trooper Roger Edwards, age 37, is a 9 1/2 -year member of the Oregon State Police who was assigned June 1st as a detective in the Gaming Enforcement Division. Senior Trooper Edwards worked in the Fish & Wildlife Division for five years prior to his current assignment.

The "Harold R. Berg Lifesaving Award" is named after Lieutenant Harold R. Berg who died on May 10, 1975. Lieutenant Berg, while off duty, was contacted by a citizen who informed him that a boy scout was missing at Cape Lookout State Park. While attempting to search a cave near the water's edge, he was washed out to sea.

The award is given to State Police employees who distinguish themselves by performing or reacting to a situation in a positive and professional manner which saves, or reduces the risk of loss of life of another person; and, where a strong possibility existed that if such action wasn't taken, loss of life or serious injury would have resulted.