…Officers Joe Deppen and Kris Kiel were presented with DNR Lifesaving Awards for the winter rescue of an angler who broke through the ice…
Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers contribute to their communities in many ways. The efforts of two officers who patrol southeast Michigan were recognized during Thursday’s meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Detroit.
Conservation officer from Macomb County receives Wildlife Officer of the Year award
Michigan DNR Conservation Officer Joe Deppen was recognized as the 2023 Shikar Safari Michigan Wildlife Officer of the Year. The award, the highest state honor for conservation officers, is given annually.
“Joe Deppen naturally embodies the character traits of a true game warden,” said Chief Jason Haines, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “His work ethic seamlessly supports our mission to protect the state’s natural resources and people who enjoy them. Deppen is ready and willing to help every day with a positive attitude, is well-respected and valued by those within and outside of the DNR and is often requested by the public to assist at community events.”
Assigned to Macomb County, Deppen has spent his entire CO career patrolling southeast Michigan, which is populated with historic waterfowl areas, including Lake St. Clair, Harsens Island and St. Clair Flats.
He leads his nine-county area in addressing fish and game violations, a result of spending many hours conducting marine and waterfowl patrols and responding to wildlife complaints on both private and public land. He is well known for successfully conducting large-scale investigations that require collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and local courts.
Deppen applies his waterfowl expertise to teach new officers species identification and enforcement skills at a weeklong waterfowl training academy. He is also a water safety instructor who instructs new officers on important survival skills and rescue techniques.
His accomplishments include selection as the 2019 Mississippi Flyway Waterfowl Protection Officer of the Year for Michigan and the 2022 Michigan Officer of the Year by the Association of Midwest Fish and Game Law Enforcement Officers. He has also earned two DNR Lifesaving Awards.
Deppen has been a Michigan DNR conservation officer since 2016. He earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology with a concentration in biology from Michigan State University and was previously a salvage diver in Florida and Mexico.
Macomb County conservation officers honored for saving angler who fell through the ice
Michigan DNR Conservation Officers Joe Deppen and Kris Kiel were presented with DNR Lifesaving Awards for the winter rescue of an angler who broke through the ice and was in the water for more than five minutes.
In February, Deppen and Kiel were checking anglers ice fishing near the Fairhaven Boat Launch, located in Ira Township on the northeast side of Anchor Bay, where the ice was weak and quickly deteriorating.
After helping two men who had previously broken through the ice safely make it to shore, the COs began advising other anglers to get off the ice and directed them to a safe route.
The last angler the COs encountered was fishing in a shanty about 100 yards from the shoreline. Deppen and Kiel yelled to him, warning that the ice was weak and breaking. They advised him to come toward them where ice was safer, warning not to go toward the launch.
The angler dismissed the COs, saying he had ice spuds and was fine.
Deppen and Kiel drove toward the launch, in case the angler decided to move that way.
Shortly after, the angler started to make his way to the launch. When the angler was about 30-40 yards from shore, one of his legs punched through the ice. He attempted to run but the ice cracked beneath him and he went into the water up to his neck.
Equipped with a life jacket, throw bag and rescue disc, the COs yelled to the man to roll onto the ice. The ice continued to break, and the cold and tired angler was unable to hold onto the rope the officers threw to him.
After the angler was in the water for about five minutes and making no progress, the officers knew they had to act fast. Cold water can be fatal, and time is a key factor in survival. Deppen removed his duty belt and bulletproof vest, put on a life jacket and tied a rope to his waist, with Kiel securing the other end of the rope.
When Deppen stepped onto the deteriorating ice, he immediately broke through. Deppen punched the ice with his hands and forearms to make a path, and after a few minutes reached the angler, who was conscious but not moving.
When Deppen secured the angler, and with Kiel on land holding the rope, the officers were able to pull the man out of the water using the throw bag and rescue disc.
Once the man was on land, he removed his wet clothes and sat in the CO’s patrol truck until he warmed up. He refused medical attention and left the scene on his own.
“Conservation officers complete ice rescue training in a controlled environment to prepare for situations like this,” said Chief Jason Haines, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “Deppen and Kiel were able to use their training and knowledge of the area to help two anglers safely exit the lake and save a man’s life. Deppen risked his own life when he chose to enter the water, and Kiel made sure that both men safely made it back to shore.”
Deppen has been a CO since 2016; Kiel has been a CO since 1997.
Michigan conservation officers are fully licensed law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and conducting lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.
