Surrounded by beaming coworkers and family, Kosciusko Lake Patrol Officer Ken Troutman accepted national recognition Wednesday afternoon for his life-saving actions on Lake Wawasee this summer. Troutman was given national recognition from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Troutman took the time to thank Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine and the rest of the department for the opportunity he has to serve his community. Troutman has served as an LPO for four years. He told those in attendance that he didn’t deserve this award, as doing his job well in front of God was reward enough. On July 25, Indiana Conservation Officers Jon Boyd and Dustin Whitehead responded to calls for help from Troutman to assist with a sinking boat in Lake Wawasee. Only one of the seven passengers was wearing a lifejacket. The officers rescued everyone from the water within minutes. If it weren’t for the actions of these officers this incident could have ended tragically, according to Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chad Hill. The incident began as Troutman was motioning the overloaded motorboat to slow down in an idle zone, when the boat came to an abrupt stop causing it to take water over the bow. The boat operator attempted to accelerate, which forced more water into the boat, throwing one occupant overboard and swamping the boat. The boat then capsized and sank. All seven occupants fell out, and Boyd and Whitehead arrived in less than a minute after being summoned by Troutman. The officers were able to get all victims into their patrol boats, and the boat operator was subsequently arrested for boating/operating while intoxicated. Boyd and Whitehead were previously acknowledged and awarded for their actions in the rescue of the individuals during a ceremony on Sept. 30 in Indianapolis.
