Pocatello Police Department honors officers who saved man from drowning in river

POCATELLO — The Pocatello Police Department recently honored four officers who responded to a call to save a resident who had fallen into the Portneuf River.

In a recent ceremony at Pocatello City Hall, Police Chief Roger Schei presented the four officers with lifesaving awards. He said the department’s number one value is preserving human life.

“We do quite a few lifesaving awards,” he said. “That tells me that our people understand the mission. They put the community before themselves.”

In his remarks, Schei said these four officers are just a few of many examples of other officers who have put the needs of others above their own.

“These officers put themselves in harm’s way by jumping into the Portneuf River at a dangerous point to save someone’s life,” he said.

After Schei’s remarks, Capt. Timothy Dillon, who is commander of the patrol division, came and read the citation of what happened on that day. Dillon introduced the four officers. They are Cpl. Tyler Anderson, Jonathan Bigelow, Reed Yandell and Tyler Clemons.

“(They) responded to a welfare check in the Portneuf River,” he said. “It was reported that a male subject was trapped partially under a log.”

According to the report, Officer Bigelow was the first officer on the scene. He saw the subjects car parked on the side of the road not far from where he was and clarified with the woman who reported the incident that this was near the area the man had fallen in the river.

“Officer Bigelow walked further north and noticed a male juvenile in the river who was helping to hold and support the male victim’s head and keep it out of the water,” Dillon said. “Officer Bigelow then entered the water and moved to the victim to keep his head above water.”

As the other three officers arrived, they formed a plan to get the man out of the water safely. They decided that Officer Yandell would get on top of the log and stand above the man so he could keep him calm.

“Corporal Anderson assisted in the river in keeping the victim above the water while also assisting the fire department in getting the life jacket and rescue rope tied,” Dillon said.

Officer Clemons got the juvenile out of the water so the other officers and fire department personnel could focus on the man.

“He then escorted them up the bank to a safe area,” Dillon said. “Once the rope was attached, the plan was made to utilize officers and fire personnel to pull on the rope to free the victim from the water.”

After the man was rescued, he was taken to an ambulance where he was then taken to the Portneuf Medical Center.

“After the incident, the battalion chief stated that had it not been for the quick thinking of these officers, it is likely that the man would have drowned,” Dillon said.

After reading the statement, Dillon presented the four officers with their awards. Schei said he is proud of each of them and presented them with a chief’s challenge coin, which he gives to officers when they receive an award.

“You have to earn this one,” he said. “I just don’t give them out to everybody.”

Schei said he is proud that these four officers were willing to put the needs of the man above their own and for their willingness to serve the community of Pocatello.