Wooster Police Officers Honored for Vehicle Rescue

Three Wooster Police Department officers received the department's highest honors at the April 6 City Council meeting for rescuing a woman trapped in a submerged vehicle during flooding on March 27.

Officer Herbert and Master Police Officer Schafer each received the Medal of Valor and the Life Saving Award. Officer King received the Life Saving Award.

The rescue began at 5:13 a.m. when dispatch received a call from a woman whose vehicle had driven into floodwaters. The water temperature was 30 degrees with 20 mph winds.

Officer Herbert reached the vehicle first and entered water 5.5 feet deep. Only 10 inches of the roof remained above the surface. Herbert climbed onto the roof and shattered the window, cutting her hand. She and MPO Schafer coached the woman to unbuckle her seatbelt, then pulled her through the submerged cabin window as the roof sank.

Herbert and Schafer carried the victim, who suffered severe hypothermia, toward higher ground. Officer King entered the water to relieve the injured Herbert and help MPO Schafer carry the woman the remaining distance to paramedics.

"In a situation where seconds mattered and the environment was deadly, they did not blink," Police Chief Matt Fisher said. "Their courage saved a life that morning."