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Mike Fassari

A Perfect Ten (People Saved)

by Mike Fassari
Sargeant
Colorado River Station

On June 29, 2000 Deputy Marvin Carter and Reserve Deputy Charles Watson were working Boat Patrol on Lake Havasu. A severe thunderstorm was developing, prompting Carter and Watson to pull their 23' open bow patrol boat off the Lake. As they reached the boat ramp, the storm hit with full force. They had just loaded the patrol boat on its trailer when they received a report of vessel in distress. Without regard for their own safety, Carter and Watson launched their boat and responded.

The weather service was reporting sustained winds of over 43 miles per hour. Deputy Carter reported swells of five to seven feet. Although the vessel in distress was less than half a mile away, it took Carter and Watson almost 20 minutes to reach them. Due to the size of the swells, they lost sight of the vessel several times. Deputy Carter said, "The waves were so high at times that even though I was standing in the boat, all I could see was water at eye level".

Battling high winds, and with waves breaking over their patrol boat, Carter and Watson were able to safely transfer the 4 adults and 6 small children, from the stranded vessel to the patrol boat, and transport all of them safely to shore.

During the rescue the Colorado River Station received several 911 calls, from people at Havasu Landing Resort, who could see the vessel in distress and the conditions on the lake. The callers pleaded with dispatch to "get someone out there to help those people".

After safely transporting the people to shore, Deputy Carter called one of the Havasu Landing Deputies to bring the boat trailer to his location; it was too dangerous to travel the half-mile back to the launch ramp by boat.

The skill of Deputy Carter and Boating Officer Watson resulted in the rescue, unharmed, of two families. Their selfless dedication to duty was in the highest traditions of Law Enforcement and reflects great credit upon themselves, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Both Deputy Carter and Boating Officer Watson were awarded the Sheriff's Medal of Valor for the rescue.

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