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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (June 29, 2018)
June 29, 2018 T he C olumbia P ress Marine officers seek drunken boaters Law enforcement agen- cies from 32 counties have planned an operation this weekend to combat drunk- en boating. The Marine Board and Or- egon State Police also will participate in “Operation Dry Water” today through Sunday, July 1. It’s part of a national effort to reduce the number of ac- cidents and fatalities related to boating under the influ- ence of intoxicants. “To help marine officers prepare, we train them to recognize drug and alco- hol impairment and arrest those operators – including those with paddles,” says Randy Henry, boating safe- ty manager for the Marine Board. Boating under the influ- ence means prescription drugs, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana or any other sub- stance that impairs a per- son’s ability to make sound judgments and safely oper- ate a boat. The effects of drugs and alcohol are amplified on the water with the combination of sun glare, wind, waves and other environmental stressors. Alcohol also dehydrates the body, putting people at risk of drowning should they suddenly be immersed in cold water. In Oregon, the conse- quences of being convicted of BUII include jail time, $6,250 in fines and loss of boating privileges. 5 Suicidal man rescued from surf at Sunset Beach A man attempting to kill him- self was rescued from the surf at Sunset Beach on June 21. The man, who was not named, had tied a bag full of weights around his body, the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office reported. “Detective Walker and Dep- uty Libertad eventually made voice contact with the subject and created enough of a rapport to nearly talk the subject out of the water,” Sheriff Tom Bergin wrote in a media release. “They were successful in re- moving the bag full of weights the subject had around his body.” The despondent subject resist- ed, turned and walked back into the surf, in an apparent attempt to drown himself, according to Bergin. A short time later, the Coast Guard helicopter arrived to assist. “The Coast Guard pilots showed incredible skill by hovering the helo and using the helicopter Courtesy Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office A Coast Guard helicopter responds by air while three deputies attempt to coax the man out of the surf. rotor wash to dissuade the sub- ject from going further into the ocean,” Bergin wrote. “The air crew then dropped a rescue swimmer, who also kept the sub- ject from walking farther out.” Detective John Walker walked out into the surf, putting him- self at risk, to assist the rescue swimmer in talking the man into walking back to safety, Ber- gin wrote. The man surrendered when he realized deputies weren’t going to let him die. Once the man was on the beach, Deputy Jodi Libertad continued de-escalation and eventually the subject volunteered for a mental evaluation, according to Bergin. “I am extremely proud of their selfless courage and commit- ment to the safety of others no matter who they are or what issues they may have,” Bergin wrote of his deputies.
