September 29, 2021 10:00 a.m. (updated 2:30 p.m.)

Two Roseburg Police officers rescued a woman who was going under the water in the South Umpqua River early Wednesday.

An RPD report said just before 4:00 a.m. several officers responded to a report of a female drowning near Stewart Park. A caller identified as James Smith said he and 24-year old Brittany Shepherd had decided to go for a swim, but the woman quickly went into distress as the pair tried to swim in the river. Smith said Shepherd was struggling to tread water and that he was unable to help her. Smith had gotten out of the water to make the 911 call.

RPD Sergeant Jeff Eichenbusch, and Officers Dawson Batsch and Brandon Halter, along with Roseburg Fire Department fire personnel, responded to the scene. They found the woman gasping, exhausted and unable to get back to shore. The report said Officers Batsch and Halter quickly removed all their duty gear, including guns, radios, badges, belts and vests, and jumped into the river to rescue Shepherd. As they got into the river, Shepherd was going under water. Sergeant Eichenbusch said without their quick actions, she likely would have drowned.

Officer Batsch, who previously served as a lifeguard, swam quickly out to Shepherd and used his lifeguard training and experience to grab her and swim her back to shore.

The woman was taken to CHI Mercy Medical Center. She was treated and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the incident.