A recovery effort is underway for the St. Helens city administrator after he fell from a dock into the Columbia River, officials said.
The St. Helens Police Department responded to a report around 10:30 p.m. Saturday that John Walsh had fallen from the St. Helens City docks into the river, according to a Sunday press release from the city. A rescue attempt was begun.
Around 2 p.m. Sunday, Mayor Jerry Cole said in a social media post that Walsh was dead.
“On behalf of the City of Rainier, I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire St. Helens community,” he wrote on Facebook. “John dedicated many years of service to local government and worked tirelessly on behalf of the citizens he served. His commitment to public service and his impact on the community will not be forgotten.”
The St. Helens Police Department was assisted by Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office. Rescue efforts were paused around 3:30 a.m. Sunday.
Search efforts resumed at 11 a.m. with law enforcement using a drone and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office using underwater equipment to locate Walsh, according to the release.
St. Helens City Council met Sunday at 1 p.m. to declare an emergency and discuss the appointment of an interim city administrator.
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