Officers receive accolades in Moses Lake
Six members of the Moses Lake Fire Department were honored Tuesday night for saving a life when a vehicle was submerged in Moses Lake.
MOSES LAKE - Law enforcement and firefighters in Moses Lake were honored Tuesday night at the annual Masonic Lodge #174 Public Safety Recognition Awards.
Among those honored in the event were six firefighters with the Moses Lake Fire Department who risked their own lives to try to save three people trapped in a vehicle submerged in Moses Lake. Back in May, firefighters Sean Hoxie, Dustin Dyler, Todd Pyper, Christopher Mortensen, Jay Morice and Troy Hesse responded for victims trapped in a vehicle that had gone into the lake off of Stratford Road.
"The crew, at great risks to themselves and the elements, entered the water in an attempt to rescue the trapped victims," Fire Chief Tom Taylor wrote in the nomination letter.
They were quickly able to rescue one man from the vehicle and were required to use hydraulic spreaders under the water to extricate two others. Unfortunately, only one of the victims was rescued alive but without the "outside the box" creativity to use the hydraulic spreaders under the water, something seldom performed and never trained, the outcome could have been worse, Taylor said.
"Theses individuals exemplify the meaning of the mission and values of the Moses Lake Fire Department," he added.
Moses Lake Police Chief Dave Ruffin nominated Officer Paul Ouimette, an officer with the department for four years. Ouimette is currently assigned to swing shift patrol and although he is not a leader by title, Ruffin said Ouimette is considered an informal leader on the shift.
"In a time where satisfactory performance is all too common in the workplace, Officer Ouimette has risen above this stereotype," Ruffin said. "Being a police officer is not just another job to Officer Ouimette."
Ouimette has also dedicated efforts to combat underage drinking and narcotics violations in the community.
Also honored was sheriff's Deputy Ricardo Char, nominated by his shift partner, Deputy Tyson Voss. Char is a member of the Off Road Vehicle Unit, U.S. Marshals Task Force, a team leader on the Regional Tactical Response team, instructor for the regional reserve academy, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course instructor and a field training officer.
"He has helped transform the Moses Lake Sand Dunes into a more family-friendly atmosphere through education and enforcement with his duties in ORV," Voss wrote. "He has helped plan warrant roundups with the Marshal's Task Force to take dangerous fugitives off the road in our communities."
Char is also the head coach for the Moses Lake High School girl's soccer team.
From the State Patrol, Trooper Camron Iverson was nominated by Sgt. Marcus Smith for a productive 2013, making 35 DUI arrests, 940 speed contacts, 181 seatbelt violation contacts and 11 drug arrests. Iverson also dedicated himself to two specialty positions within the agency last year, becoming a belt weapons/defensive tactics instructor, and a member of the Rapid Deployment Force team for central and eastern Washington.
Grant County Fire District No. 5 Chief Dan Smith nominated Corey Shearer for the award. Shearer started with the department in 1997 and was named Firefighter of the Year in 2012 and is president of the volunteer association.
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