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Riverton police present lifesaving awards, outline COP outreach work
Summary
Riverton police honored two officers with lifesaving awards for rescuing a near-drowning victim and heard a detailed presentation on community-oriented policing programs by COP coordinator Mike Ashley.
Riverton Police Chief Taylor presented lifesaving medals and certificates to Sergeant Rue and Officer Gabe Westover after officers and dispatchers responded to a drowning call on April 12, 2025. Chief Taylor said officers found the victim unconscious in a residential pool; officers and later paramedics performed life-saving interventions and the victim recovered after hospital treatment.
Chief Taylor said the officers ''represented the city as professionals and "truly exemplified the vision of the police department" during the response. The council then heard from Officer Tony Wolfgram, who introduced the recognized officers, and from Mike Ashley, the city's COP (community-oriented policing) coordinator, who gave a roughly 30-minute presentation on outreach programs.
Ashley described a suite of programs aimed at connecting police with residents, schools and businesses. He explained how small, sustained contacts'from lemonade-stand photos to school visits'build relationships, and described specific initiatives he leads such as middle-school "connection ball" activities, business visits with refrigerator magnets linking to non-emergency numbers, youth circuit training, DARE graduations and Citizens Academy. "If we can connect and keep people connected in their communities...it's just a program," he said, adding the goal is to leave community capacity in place after programs change.
Council members praised Ashley's outreach and asked how the department would sustain community-oriented policing if key staff move on. Chief Taylor said the department is sharing knowledge and structuring programs so other officers can continue outreach work when personnel change. The council also discussed applying for a federal COPS hiring grant to fund two officer positions focused on community policing; staff asked council members for letters of support to be submitted within the week.
The awards presentation and COP update were held during the council's presentations and reports segment; the lifesaving medals were given prior to the COP coordinator's briefing.
