Sheriff's Office Honors Outstanding Staff and Volunteer

By QUINN PROPST
Ward Media Reporter

WENATCHEE – The Chelan County Sheriff's Office recently recognized its employees for their outstanding service.

“Congratulations to all of the winners at our area’s recent awards ceremony,” said Sheriff Mike Morrison. “Dedication and contributions elevate our communities and inspire us all to strive for excellence.”

MP Andrew Tilton was named MP of the Year.

“Deputy Tilton has been recognized by his immediate superiors as someone who continually works hard to achieve the mission of the Office in all aspects of his assigned duties and responsibilities,” Morrison said. “His dedication to the team, exceptional work ethic and results are a credit to himself, his team and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.”

Jillian Simmons received the Support Staff of the Year award for her work at the Sheriff's Office.

“Jillian represents the office in a positive light every day and excels in all tasks and responsibilities assigned to her,” Morrison said.

Vernon Nelson Jr. was named Volunteer of the Year for his work with Chelan County Mountain Rescue.

“The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office is extremely proud to announce Vernon Nelson Jr. as the recipient of the prestigious Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer of the Year Award,” Morrison said. “As Chelan County Sheriff, I have personally seen Vernon exemplify the essence of dedication, expertise and unwavering commitment to saving lives in the most difficult terrain imaginable.”

“In the rugged expanse of Chelan County, where the backcountry poses formidable challenges, Vernon is a beacon of hope and resilience,” he said. “While the Sheriff's Office has a legal mandate to save the backcountry, it is Vernon and his team of mountain rescuers who often take the most dangerous trails to answer the call of those in dire need. need. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office and the citizens served are deeply indebted to Vernon's unwavering commitment to the well-being of others.

Andrew Tilton, Cy Bowthorpe, Jeremy Mannin and Jose Hernandez received Life Saving Awards for their response to a dangerous situation.

“These four individuals were essential to the safety and peaceful resolution of an inherently dangerous situation involving a veteran who had expressed suicidal thoughts and consumed pills and alcohol, a dangerous combination,” Morrison said.

“The team arrived on scene and began reaching out and attempting to get much needed individual help through the use of de-escalation tactics and Jose's health expertise behavioral,” he said. “Ultimately, they were able to arrest the individual without incident, bring him to the professionals who could help him and ensure that this night would not be his last.”

Deputies Tristen Jurgensen and Brian Bender received Life Saving Awards for their quick response in a case in which a juvenile severely cut his arm after breaking windows. Officers used their first aid training to apply tourniquets and pressure to the wound to stop the intense bleeding until medical teams arrived on scene.

Deputy Anders Wiggum received a Life Saving Award for his response to a collision resulting in serious injuries.

“Being the first on scene, he quickly began assessing patients as best he could and coordinating responses from multiple first responder agencies,” Morrison said. “His actions and quick thinking were critical to ensuring the parties involved got the care they needed when they needed it.”

Recipients of the Meritorious Conduct Award were Sgt. Rob Huddleston, Deputy Carlos Rodriguez, Mike Battis with Ballard Ambulance, Campus Safety Deputy Elgin Shaw and Detective Brett Peterson.

The Award of Merit was presented to Deputy Chris Eakle, Detective Cyrus Bowthorpe, Deputy Anders Wiggum and Sgt. Lee Risdon, sergeant. Brent Frank, Deputy Austin Key, Deputy James Peterson, Deputy Jerrod Biggar, Deputy Ian Sutton, Code Enforcement Deputy Zach Wenzel, Sgt. Brian Lewis, Deputy Carlos Rodriguez, Deputy Brad Norton, Behavioral Health Unit Courtney Beutler and Hal Marshall.

Quinn Propst: 509-731-3590 or [email protected].