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Four Copper Country sheriff’s officers have been honored for their heroic actions during the Father’s Day Flood.
Houghton County deputies Hans Tolkinen, Tyler Harju and Angela Miles, and Keweenaw County sergeant Brad Pelli coordinated the rescue of 12-year-old Thatcher Markham, after the boy was trapped in the rubble of a collapsed basement at his home on the Portage Canal.
Police Officers Association of Michigan President James Tignanelli recounted the story of how Tolkinen and Miles drove as far as they could up the damaged Canal Road…
They administered first aid, and commandeered a boat to take Markham across the Portage to an ambulance that shift supervisor Harju had contacted.
Harju and Pelli returned to the Markham home in the boat to assist other family members.
Markham had a pulse when he arrived at UP Health System-Portage, but later passed away.
Tolkinen, Harju, Miles and Pelli received awards from the POAM…
They also received proclamations signed by State Representative Greg Markkanen, State Senator Ed McBroom, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
