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Oct. 24, 2017
Contact: Lt. James Gorno, 989-732-3541
Two DNR conservation officers cited for lifesaving actions in northeast Michigan
COs Paul Fox, William Webster honored for heroic efforts in separate incidents
Two Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers recently were honored for their lifesaving actions in northeast Michigan earlier this year. Conservation Officers Paul Fox and William Webster received the DNR’s Lifesaving Award during the regular meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting in Alpena Oct. 12.
“Two people are alive today because of the skill, dedication and professionalism of Conservation Officers Paul Fox and  Bill Webster,” said Gary Hagler, chief of DNR’s Law Enforcement Division, who presented the awards. “Michigan conservation officers often serve as first responders, sometimes braving treacherous conditions to provide assistance. Their thorough knowledge of the areas they serve makes them well prepared to respond to an emergency scene when every minute counts. We’re proud of Conservation Officers Fox and Webster and are pleased to recognize their heroic actions.”
In March, Fox was at home in Presque Isle County on his day off when something unusual caught his eye as he looked through the window of his residence. Grabbing his binoculars, he took a closer look and saw that a person covered in snow had fallen through the ice and crawled to the riverbank.
Through recently fallen deep snow, Fox quickly set out in his patrol vehicle to the other side of the river, alerting dispatchers of the situation by radio. With about 2 feet of snow on the ground, Fox advised dispatchers to send a snowplow, so other responders could access the area.
When his vehicle became bogged down in the snow, Fox continued on foot for about 300 yards, following the victim’s tracks and cries for help. Upon reaching the victim, Fox rendered first aid for her injuries. She told Fox she had fallen through the ice during the night and her feet were so frozen she was unable to walk. In fact, her feet were encased in several inches of ice from being submerged in the water.
A Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived as Fox pulled the victim off the riverbank to an open area. Fox and the deputy then carried the victim toward Fox’s patrol truck and an EMS team arrived with a snowmobile and gurney soon after. Fox helped to place the woman on the gurney and then kept the snowmobile from getting stuck in the deep snow.
The victim passed out in the ambulance and was taken to the hospital where she was treated for extreme hypothermia and frostbite. She recovered from her injuries with only minor lingering effects.
Fox has been with the DNR for three years, serving Presque Isle County and the surrounding area the entire time. He is a native of Deckerville in Sanilac County.
Webster’s lifesaving incident occurred in August, when he heard a central dispatch call for assistance in finding a suicidal man who was in a vehicle somewhere in the Alpena area. In an attempt to locate the person, Michigan State Police asked the cell phone company to “ping” the man’s phone, which can pinpoint the cell tower that received the phone’s last signal.
However, the company could only identify a general location in the tower’s vicinity and could not acquire latitude and longitude coordinates. Various law enforcement agencies then dispatched officers to the general location provided.
Due to his knowledge of the area, Webster determined the only place a vehicle could be was on a remote portion of state-managed land. Webster jumped on his all-terrain vehicle and traveled to the area, following fresh tire impressions on the roadway until he came upon a parked, running vehicle with a subject inside.
Webster discovered that piping had been run from the vehicle’s exhaust system into the driver’s side window, and was held in place with duct tape. Webster immediately ripped the piping from the window, opened the door and shut the vehicle off. The internal temperature of the vehicle was extremely hot. The man was unconscious but still had a pulse.
Webster continually performed lifesaving measures and monitored the victim’s condition while he notified Central Dispatch and explained how to get additional responders to the scene. When EMS arrived, Webster helped to load the man for transport to the hospital, where he eventually recovered.
Webster has been with DNR for 11 years, serving Alpena County and the surrounding area the entire time. He is a native of Atlanta in Montmorency County.
Michigan conservation officers are elite, highly trained professionals who serve in every corner of the state. They are fully commissioned peace offers with authority to enforce the state’s criminal laws. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers.
Twenty-three young men and women currently are going through training with the goal of becoming Michigan conservation officers. To get a close-up look at their challenges and accomplishments, subscribe to the weekly conservation officer academy blog, which also will be posted on the Michigan DNR Facebook page. View previous blogs from Recruit School #8.
/Note to editors: Accompanying photos (individual photos of Fox and Webster as well as the presentation of Webster’s award) are available below for download. A photo of Fox’s award presentation is not available. Caption information follows.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer William Webster, center, receives the department's Lifesaving Award Oct. 12 for his lifesaving actions in the Alpena area earlier this year. Presenting the award are DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler, right, and Assistant Chief Dean Molnar./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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