Slain deputy remembered with patrol boat

May 12, 2011 Star-Courier Barbers Hill Dayton PRESS 0

The PV Shane Detwiler leaves the dock for “First Orders.” Aboard the vessel were Detwiler’s wife Trish

By BOBBY HORN JR.
OAK ISLAND—Honored as a local hero, a state hero and a national hero, Chamber County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Detwiler was memorialized in a ceremony which marked the maiden voyage of the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s newest vessel on May 7. The ceremony was held at Oak Island’s Job Beason Park.
The state’s 29’ patrol vessel was commissioned as the “PV Shane Detwiler” in honor of the former game warden, and deputy. Texas Parks and Wildlife Colonel Peter Flores said that the “PV Shane Detwiler” has been assigned to Region 4 District 4, with the hailing port in Anahuac.
“The vessel will be the corner stone in our enforcement efforts,” he said.
With his voice cracking at times, Chambers County Sheriff Joe LaRive told the audience how Detwiler served his nation, first as a members of the U.S. Army and then later as member of the National Guard. While serving in the National Guard, Detwiler participated in a year-long tour in Afghanistan, earning a Bronze Star for valor and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
After his first tour in the Army, the Texas native returned home. He joined Parks and Wildlife, serving as an s a Game Warden in Anahuac, the same district where the vessel that bears his name will patrol. Then, he joined the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office.
July 31, 2009 will be a day that will live on in the memory of friends, relatives and fellow officers. That was the day that, while responding to a “shot fired” call at a trailer park in West Chambers County Detwiler was fatally shot by a suspect.
Flores said that it was the tradition of Parks and Wildlife to name patrol vessels after game wardens who had fallen in the line of duty and he was honored and humbled to add the PV Shane Detwiler to the fleet.
During the ceremony Detwiler’s wife Trish, sons Aiden and Audie and daughter Abigail were presented with a plaque from the boat’s manufacturer recognizing the day, a life saver ring bearing the name
PV Shane Detwiler and commemorative life vests.
Following the official ribbon cutting, the family joined game wardens and deputies aboard the vessel as received “First Orders” and officially left the dock as a new member of the fleet.