Waldoboro Police Officer Jeremy Joslyn was commended Feb. 26 for his efforts to save the life of a man during the Feb. 9 blizzard.
Waldoboro Police Chief Bill Labombarde asked for time during the board of selectmen’s meeting to honor Joslyn in the case of Frank Leathers, who was found dead, Feb 10, in the woods near Winslow Mills Road in Waldoboro.
Labombarde read about the incident from the certificate to be given to Joslyn.
“On this date a citizen walked into the woods on Winslow Mills Rd. during blizzard like conditions,” Labombarde read. “He had not been seen or heard from since. Upon being thoroughly briefed, you arrived on scene, entered the woods on snow shoes, and followed his tracks through the woods for over two (2) hours in a tireless attempt to rescue the citizen from the elements”
“It was only because of the deep snow, high winds and extreme weather conditions that you were forced to terminate your efforts. Your selfless actions are an exemplary reflection upon yourself, the Waldoboro Police Department and the Town of Waldoboro.”
At approximately 6:15 p.m., Feb. 9, Waldoboro Police officers responded to a disturbance at 951 Winslow Mills Rd. When they arrived at the residence, police were advised that Leathers, 27, had left the residence on foot and was headed south on Winslow Mills Road, to a friends house on Route 1.
According to a press release at the time, police checked the area and observed foot prints in the snow across the street from the residence leading into the woods. Sgt. Jamie Wilson followed the tracks into the woods a short distance, but deep snow and extreme weather conditions prevented him from continuing the search.
Additional officers from the Waldoboro Police Department, as well as Fire Chief Paul Smeltzer, arrived on scene and a more exhaustive search was conducted. At approximately 12:30 a.m., the search was terminated.
At approximately 8 a.m. Feb. 10 a second search was initiated by Game Warden Joe Lefebvre and members of the Waldoboro Police Department. At approximately 11:15 a.m., the body of the deceased was located in the woods several hundred yards off the roadway.
Although the death was not considered as suspicious, an autopsy was done Feb. 11 at the Medical Examiners Office in Augusta. Administrator Mark Belserine said Feb. 13 that results of toxicology tests could take several months.