October 6, 2021 3:40 a.m.
Three Roseburg Police officers have been recognized for their heroic actions rescuing a drowning woman from the South Umpqua River last week.
A release from Sergeant Daniel Allen said Roseburg Fire Chief Monte Bryan awarded RFD challenge coins to Sergeant Jeff Eichenbusch and officers Dawson Batch and Brandon Halter in an informal ceremony Tuesday morning at the end of their overnight shift. Sergeant Eichenbusch, who supervises the two officers, also presented the pair with official lifesaving commendations after they jumped into the river to save Brittany Shepherd, age 24, of Roseburg.
Bryan said, “The Fire Department would like to recognize Sgt. Eichenbusch, Ofc. Batsch and Ofc. Halter for their lifesaving actions. We are fortunate to be partnered with such dedicated law enforcement professionals”.
Allen said Eichenbusch was first on the scene just minutes after Roseburg resident James Smith called Douglas County Emergency Communications for help after Shepherd went skinny-dipping but couldn’t make it back to shore. Eichenbusch said he couldn’t see the woman as there was no moonlight, but could hear her gasping and coughing. He said, “It sounded like somebody struggling in the water”.
Ultimately Batch, who had worked as a lifeguard at the YMCA in Roseburg, walked into the river and began swimming to the woman. He was assisted by Halter who had picked up a life preserver to assist Shepherd. From the shore, Eichenbusch said he could see that Shephard was losing strength. He said he had no doubt that she was about to go under water without the officer’s help.
Batch and Halter got the woman back to shore where fire fighters and medical personnel took over. Shephard was taken to CHI Mercy Medical Center.
Eichenbusch supervises the graveyard shift and said he is not aware of anyone else nearly drowning in the river at night throughout his 25 years on the force.
An in-depth story regarding the early morning rescue is linked with this story at www.541radio.com