Two Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers who patrol in northwest Michigan were recognized during Thursday’s meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Lansing.
Sgt. Dan Bigger and CO Logan Turner received DNR Distinguished Service Awards for an attempted water rescue on Lake Michigan in 2022. Turner also received a DNR Lifesaving Award for his quick actions in extinguishing a vehicle fire involving an injured person trapped inside.
Burning vehicle in Traverse City
On Feb. 1, 2024, Turner responded to a two-vehicle accident on West South Airport Road, near Eastward Drive in Traverse City.
Grand Traverse Central Dispatch reported that both drivers were injured and pinned in their vehicles. Turner arrived and, as he approached one of the vehicles, an emergency medical technician asked him to hold one of the victims, still in that vehicle, in a stable position.
As Turner approached that victim, oil and other flammable fluids caused the vehicle’s engine to burst into flames.
Turner retrieved a fire extinguisher from his patrol truck and put out the fire, preventing it from spreading. The Grand Traverse Fire Department then arrived on scene and was able to extract the other victim from the second vehicle.
Both of the drivers were transitioned to a waiting ambulance and transported to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
“The department is proud of CO Turner’s quick thinking and action, which prevented this situation from becoming much worse,” said Chief Jason Haines, DNR Law Enforcement Division.
Lake Michigan water rescue mission
On Oct. 8, 2022, Benzie County Central Dispatch received a call regarding a capsized kayaker in Lake Michigan, near Point Betsie Lighthouse in Frankfort. The kayaker, who was wearing a life jacket, was part of an approved race that set out to kayak from Point Betsie to Peterson Beach.
Due to strong winds and a small watercraft advisory, the DNR Great Lakes vessel, a 23-foot boat designed for waves 6 feet to 10 feet tall, was the only nearby boat equipped for the 4- to 6-foot waves.
Dispatch confirmed via radio communication that a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was en route; however, due to strong winds, dispatch was unsure if the Coast Guard would be able to deploy a rescue swimmer.
As the patrol boat took on the high waves, the officers lost radio communication. Bigger controlled the vessel, while Logan scanned the water and located the kayaker.
The waves made it too dangerous for the vessel to get within 70 yards of the kayaker. At the same time, though, the USCG helicopter arrived and was able to lower a rescue swimmer to secure the kayaker, who then was lifted into the helicopter.
While the DNR vessel navigated back to shore through worsening conditions and dangerous waves, the USCG helicopter crew transported the kayaker to Munson Medical Center where, unfortunately, he was pronounced dead. The air, water and wind chill temperatures all were contributing factors to the death.
“We are deeply saddened with the outcome of this mission,” said Chief Haines. “We are grateful that our officers and the Coast Guard personnel returned safely, and we recognize the great risk that each of them took to their personal safety to attempt this rescue.”
Turner has been a CO since 2021 and is assigned to Grand Traverse County. Bigger, a U.S. Navy veteran with many hours of experience operating vessels on the Great Lakes, has been a CO since 2002 and supervises Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Wexford counties.
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.
