Swinomish officer has heroic week

Delivering a baby at roadside and rescuing kayakers in distress was all in a week’s work for Swinomish Indian Tribal Community police officer Brian Geer.

Geer, who doubles as the Swinomish Emergency Management coordinator, was hailed last week for heroic actions by both Swinomish Tribal Police and Skagit County Fire District 13 leadership.

Geer was first on the scene Jan. 30 when a kayak capsized in Skagit Bay south of Lone Tree Point. He quickly commandeered another kayak and was able to pull a person to shore who had been in the cold water for perhaps a half hour supported by another kayaker.

“Officer Geer was able to attach a rope to the functioning kayak and towed them in through a strong current,” said District 13 Fire Chief Wood Weiss. District 13 firefighters and emergency medical personnel, led by Capt. Drew Farrell, were also on scene.

“Our team stepped into the surf,” Weiss added, “and pulled the boat the rest of the way in. The quick thinking of officer Geer and the incredible strength and tenacity of the man who held the person from slipping in (beneath the water) saved the day with nothing apparently worse than hypothermia.”

“He couldn’t bring him ashore,” Weiss said of the kayaker whose craft remained afloat, “because both his hands were busy holding the person against his boat.”

Weiss said two kayakers had spilled into the bay, one of whom was able to swim about 50 yards to the beach in front of the Thousand Trails RV Resort off Snee Oosh Road.

Weiss said his crew responded to the water rescue call from a training session at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge. Farrell, the district’s CARES program coordinator, took the call at the Snee Oosh Road fire station and was able to arrive at nearly the same time as officer Geer.

“There was great teamwork,” said Weiss. “Fire District 13, Anacortes Fire Department, La Conner Hook & Ladder, Swinomish Police and Swinomish Fish & Wildlife also helped out with the rescue and subsequent warming.”

Thousand Trails staff was likewise engaged.

Swinomish Police said on-scene patient care was transferred to Fire District 13 and the Anacortes Fire Department.

Helps deliver baby at roadside

For Geer, it was the second time he had literally come to the rescue in a span of 24 hours, according to a Jan. 30 Swinomish Police social media post.

While on his way home the night before the water rescue, Geer saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, flashing its headlights and using its hazard lights.

Geer had no choice but to pull the car over. Within seconds he learned what caused the erratic driving. A passenger was in active labor.

Geer delivered the baby.

The Anacortes police and fire departments arrived and assumed care for the patients, Swinomish Police said.

Public reaction to Geer’s emergency service was universally supportive. The tribal police department’s post featuring him drew more than 100 responses.

Typical was the praise offered by poster Bo Pingree: “Nice work, officer Geer. Sounds like you had a busy week. Kudos to you and everyone involved.”