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| OSP Lifesaving Award Presented to Detective | ||
| 12/05/2007 | ||
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Lieutenant Gregg Hastings Public Information Officer Office: (503) 731-3020 ext. 247 Photograph links valid for 30 days - Source: Oregon State Police Photo 1: (left to right: Captain Bedell, Detective Cassebarth, Kathy Ryan, and Superintendent McLain) Photo 2: (Senior Trooper Rzewnicki) Joined by the woman whose life was saved during this year's Hood to Coast Relay, Oregon State Police (OSP) Superintendent Timothy McLain presented the Department's "Harold R. Berg Lifesaving Award" Wednesday to an OSP Detective from the Portland Area Command office who was one of two OSP troopers credited with saving the woman's life. Both involved troopers have been presented the award by Superintendent McLain as a similar presentation was held recently in Astoria.  OSP Detective Terri Cassebarth and Senior Trooper Dee Rzewnicki were off-duty running the Hood To Coast Relay when they helped save the life of Kathy Ryan, age 66, after she collapsed on Highway 202 west of Mist. On August 25, 2007 at approximately 5:40 a.m. their team had just left exchange point #25 and was driving westbound on Highway 202 from Mist when they came upon Ryan collapsed on her back in the middle of the highway. Rzewnicki, an OSP First Responder / First Aid instructor, and Cassebarth got out of their vehicle and started assessing Ryan's condition, finding she was not breathing and her faint pulse stopped. An unidentified woman from another participating team approached them and said she was a nurse from Kansas. As Rzewnicki stabilized her head she directed others to help move traffic around the area and call 9-1-1 to get emergency response, Cassebarth and the unidentified Kansas nurse started CPR. Cassebarth did rescue breathing and the nurse began chest compressions.  Ryan's team members arrived on scene while CPR was being performed. After about 8 minutes, Ryan began to show signs of life. Ambulance personnel eventually arrived and transported her to St. Johns Hospital in Longview, Washington. She was later transferred to Oregon Health Sciences University where she was treated until her release from the hospital. Terri Cassebarth and Dee Rzewnicki have been members of OSP for ten years. Cassebarth is assigned as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division at the Portland Area Command Office. Rzewnicki is a Senior Trooper in the Patrol Services Division at the Astoria Area Command Office. In presenting the award, Captain Maureen Bedell, Director of the OSP Criminal Investigations Division, told Detective Cassebarth "you reacted in a life threatening situation in a remote area in a manner that ultimately saved the life of Kathy Ryan. Your teamwork and professional actions exemplify the qualities of an Oregon State Trooper." Superintendent McLain commented how special it was to have Kathy Ryan present during today's presentation. "As we approach the holiday season, I am sure it is safe to say that Terri and Dee's names have come up during several conversations amongst you and your family and friends," McLain said. 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. ### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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