Heroism, hard work earn praise of sheriff
Published 10:08 pm Thursday, January 14, 2010
EVERETT — A piece of black molded plastic was one of the few clues detectives recovered in Sultan at the scene of a fatal hit-and-run crash in October.
It had no serial numbers and no identifying marks.
Still, Snohomish County sheriff’s detective Al Baker was determined to find the driver who hit and killed Paula Stierns as she was walking along 311th Avenue SE, sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.
Baker sent photos of his only piece of evidence to auto supply shops and manufacturers across the country. Somebody at a company in another state nailed it down as a part of an inner fender. Baker learned the part was made to fit three different vehicles in specific years. A search in a state database revealed 1,300 possibilities in Snohomish County.
Baker knew the suspect’s vehicle was seen in the area where the crash happened. He searched driveway by driveway until he found the vehicle, the driver and answers for Stierns’ family.
For his determination, Baker was awarded a Letter of Commendation at the sheriff’s annual awards ceremony Wednesday evening.
Members of the sheriff’s office and their loved ones filled an auditorium at the Cavelero Mid-High School to honor their friends and colleagues.
A special guest was Lisa Brenton of Marysville, wife of slain Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton. She spoke at the ceremony, drawing a standing ovation.
Sheriff John Lovick honored dozens in the law enforcement community and ordinary Snohomish County citizens.
Julie Farris, a nurse at the Snohomish County Jail, was at work one day last January when she was called to help an inmate. The man was unresponsive and shaking. Farris knew she had to do something quickly. She rolled the man on his back and cut his shirt free. She discovered a surgical scar on his chest and a bump. She realized he had some type of a pacemaker. Farris reached for the Automatic External Defibrillator pads. She shocked the man’s chest twice before he regained consciousness. Farris was awarded a Life Saving Medal.
Ken Hopkins, a firefighter and paramedic at Snohomish County Fire District 4, and animal control officer Chad Davis each received a Letter of Commendation for their quick actions in July, when an 8-year-old autistic boy went missing. They learned that the boy likes water and soon discovered him standing waist-deep in a nearby river. Hopkins and Davis rushed for help. They waded into the water and safely pulled the boy to shore.
After the Snohomish County Department of Corrections joined the sheriff’s office a year ago, a special patch was designed for the department employees. The cost to stitch the patch on uniforms would have come to more than $20,000. Instead, a group of dedicated volunteers worked for hours in May, sewing patches onto countless uniforms. They each received a Letter of Commendation for their generosity.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com
