Deputy Adam Peterson Named the 2024 NASBLA Western Region Officer of the Year
Deputy Adam Peterson, of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, has been named the NASBLA Western Region Officer of the Year for 2024.
For the past four years, Deputy Peterson has provided exceptional service in all aspects of marine law enforcement and the boating community throughout Oregon. He has demonstrated outstanding commitment through education, public outreach, technological innovation, enforcement of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws, incident investigation, and community service.
Deputy Peterson patrols Clackamas County, which has the highest number of registered boaters in Oregon and boasts diverse waterways and boating regulations. Encompassing nearly 2,000 square miles, the county ranges from the high lakes of Mt. Hood to the city limits of Portland on the Willamette River. Given the incredibly diverse challenges of Oregon's waterways, Deputy Peterson is always prepared to respond.
Since joining the marine patrol, Deputy Peterson has completed 5,826 boater safety compliance examinations. In 2023, he logged 429 motorized and 1,405 non-motorized boater contacts. Recognizing the importance of life jacket usage in preventing drownings, Deputy Peterson issued 27 citations and 56 warnings for life jacket violations in 2023, accounting for over 1/10 of all life jacket citation violations statewide.
Deputy Peterson's commitment to training other marine law enforcement officers statewide is commendable. He is recognized as one of the top marine instructors in the Oregon State Marine Board’s training program, demonstrating exceptional skills in operating drift boats, jet boats, and teaching marine law enforcement. His evaluations from peers consistently describe him as "professional," "dedicated," and "heroic."
Deputy Peterson's exceptional service to his peers, the boating public, and boating safety is exemplary. His pursuit of excellence in marine law enforcement makes him a deserving recipient of the 2024 NASBLA Western Region Officer of the Year award. Congratulations, Deputy Adam Peterson!
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First presented in 2000, the Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Award, known as the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, is presented annually to the boating law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement. The award program consists of three levels: state, regional, and national.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. We offer a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards, publications, and more. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers, and volunteers, we affect the lives of nearly 85 million American boaters.