San Rafael salutes retired 55-year police force veteran
San Rafael Police Department auxiliary officer Mark Hedeen can't recall how many water rescues, recoveries and vessel assists he's done around Marin over his lengthy career.
“There's so many of them, that after a while it just becomes part of your job,” said Hedeen, who retired last month. “I really like going out and helping people on the water.”
The City Council recently honored Hedeen with a commendation for his 55 years of service, which, according to the Police Department, is the longest tenure on
the force.
“I think you hit every single geographical part of the city with that,” Mayor Kate Colin, speaking at a council meeting, said of Hedeen's assignments. “You have seen the police force change over time. One thing that hasn't changed is your professionalism, the expertise, your commitment to showing up for your team and for each other.”
Hedeen said he was guided by a personal mandate to render aid during his career, especially on the water. Much of his work took him throughout the region for emergency calls.
Each day on the water might deliver a unique challenge, he
said. There were overturned seaplanes, aircraft collisions, possible drownings and adrift vessels, among a host of other crises.
“You're going out and getting someone out of trouble who has boating knowledge. So he's really gotten into trouble,” Hedeen said. “You develop a sixth sense out there. Whenever we see something that is not right, we stop it and bring them back to shore.”
Hedeen recalled a water rescue near San Pablo Bay about 10 years ago involving a man and woman suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Hedeen and his marine unit arrived to find a powerboat going in