Wooster honors officers who waded into frigid floodwaters to rescue trapped driver

Wooster City Council on April 6 recognized three police officers for a March 27 rescue after a vehicle drove into high floodwaters beneath a railroad bridge on Gross Gene Road. The council screened bodycam footage and presented awards of valor and life-saving citations.

According to the city’s account read into the record, dispatch received the call about 5:13 a.m. for a female trapped in a vehicle filling with water. Officers entered near-freezing water (staff described a 30°F temperature with 10–20 mph winds), reached the vehicle as only 10 inches of the roof remained exposed, and after breaking the window and clearing glass, coached and unbuckled the seat-belted occupant and pulled her from the vehicle. One officer suffered a cut that required stitches. City staff said the water depth was roughly 5 to 5½ feet with a strong current.

The mayor told the council the officers “clearly saved this woman's life.” Chief Fischer (introduced by the mayor) and council members presented awards to Patrolman Ryan King, master patrol officer Kagan Schaefer and Officer Liy Herbert; Chief Fischer said a glass plaque will follow the framed letter issued that evening.

Council members praised the officers’ coolness under pressure and the city thanked dispatch and medical personnel for their response. The recognition concluded with procedural business; no formal policy action was taken.

The council’s packet and remarks cite the incident description and the Wooster Police Department’s award policy for acts demonstrating self-sacrifice in the face of danger.