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WACOPS Selects Deputy Bergstrom as 2014 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 30, 2014

CONTACT: Shari Ireton, Director of Communications, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office
shari.ireton@snoco.org, 425-388-3377, Media line: 425-249-6263

The Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs has selected Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputy Glen Bergstrom as the 2014 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. 

The WACOPS Law Enforcement Officer of the Year provides “recognition of clearly exceptional and outstanding performance of duties above and beyond the normal scope of the profession.” 

Deputy Bergstrom joined the Sheriff’s Office in the fall of 1986 and initially worked in patrol, narcotics, and burglary.  Bergstrom has dedicated much of his career to special operations, including two years with the Dive Team, 16 years with SWAT and more than 15 years with Search and Rescue, where he is currently assigned.  In his role with SAR, Bergstrom has served as helicopter crew chief, tactical flight officer, and cadaver dog handler. 

Bergstrom, a long-time resident of the Oso community, is credited with making many quick and crucial decisions during SR530 Slide response and recovery operations last spring.  Knowing that the Sheriff’s Office rescue helicopter and crew were on the flight pad for a pre-scheduled training at the time the slide occurred, Bergstrom ordered that SnoHAWK10 respond to the affected area.  He also ordered jet fuel to be delivered into the area and identified where refueling operations would take place.

“Glen was instrumental in decision making because of his working knowledge of the area,” said SAR co-pilot Ed Hrivnak. “He figured out where we needed to refuel, and where we could safely load and unload.”

Bergstrom continued to work on search and recovery operations for several months, working closely with family members of slide victims, equipment operators, and search teams.  He was there when the last victim, Kris Regelbrugge, was located on July 22, 2014.

“Kindness, empathy, deductive reasoning, and a spirit of incredible tenaciousness were brought to bear by Deputy Bergstrom and a victim was returned to her family,” said Search and Rescue Sgt. Danny Wikstrom. “A public servant, none finer in my experience.”

The award will be presented to Deputy Bergstrom at the WACOPS Winter General Membership Meeting, January 16, 2015 in Olympia.

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