An undated photo of John Walsh, the city administrator for St. Helens.
Courtesy of the City of St. Helens
Editor’s note: On Monday, the city of St. Helens announced that the search for City Administrator John Walsh had transitioned from a search and rescue effort to a “recovery effort.”
St. Helens City Administrator John Walsh went missing Saturday after disappearing into the Columbia River near the St. Helens City docks, according to a city press release.
Police first received a call around 10:30 p.m. that a man, later identified as Walsh, had gone into the Columbia River and had failed to surface.
Search efforts lasted until 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, before resuming at 11 am.
The St. Helens Police Department, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office all assisted in the search and rescue operation. Walsh has still not been found.
The St. Helens City Council held a meeting on Sunday to declare an emergency and appoint an interim city administrator.
Administrator John Walsh went missing Saturday after disappearing into the Columbia River at the St. Helens City docks.
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Mayor Jennifer Massey said that city offices would be closed on Monday. That includes the city hall and the library.
“We’re canceling everything we possibly can this week,” Massey said. “There’s not going to be a lot of stuff going on.”
At an emotional meeting Sunday, councilors eventually selected Finance Director Gloria Butsch as the interim administrator for the next two weeks.
City staff were also directed to coordinate with the League of Oregon Cities to compile a list of long-term interim candidates.
The mayor of the nearby city of Rainier, Jerry Cole, issued a statement on Sunday afternoon.
“On behalf of the City of Rainier, I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire St. Helens community. 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.”
Cole said the flag at Rainier City Hall would be flown at half-staff beginning on Monday.
Walsh started as city administrator in 2012, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He previously served as city manager in Myrtle Point, Oregon, for three years. He told the Coast River Business Journal in 2012 that the St. Helens job attracted him, in part, because of the city’s proximity to the Columbia River.
“I lived in Chehalis, Wash., for 12 years and I really enjoy boating and fishing,” Walsh said at the time.
He also said he had family in the St. Helens area.
Officials across the Portland Metro Area have said that while outside temperatures are very warm, a combination of cold water temperatures and swift currents makes the water potentially dangerous to swim in.
This is not the only potential drowning incident this weekend. A teenager drowned at Meldrum Bar Park in Gladstone on Saturday after falling off a jet ski, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office also reported that an 18-year-old man drowned in the Siletz River Gorge near Logsden. He had been seen jumping from rocks and struggling to swim to shore.
