Sgt. Jared Jones wins the 2020 NASBLA Western Region Officer of the Year award
*This is a transcript of the "2020 Western Region Officer of the Year Winner Recognized" video from the virtual recognition ceremony on Tuesday, November 10th, 2020.
DARREN RIDER:
Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a great week and that you are staying safe with your families and being healthy. I would like to welcome you back to another NASBLA Virtual Awards recognition ceremony!
As many of you all know, NASBLA typically is given the opportunity to present all of our awards in-person at the Annual Conference. Unfortunately, we were not able to do so this year since the Conference was held virtually, which is why we have gathered here today to recognize one of our 2020 award winners.
Numerous individuals and organizations assist NASBLA in various ways throughout the year. To show our appreciation for this invaluable assistance, NASBLA recognizes outstanding individuals and groups for their contributions to recreational boating safety through its awards program.
First presented in 2000, the Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Award, also known as the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, is presented annually to a boating law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement.
The 2020 Western Region Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award is presented to Sergeant Jared Jones with the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation.
Since the beginning of his career, Sgt. Jones has been active in the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation’s law enforcement training programs. He has served as an instructor for various courses including firearms, defensive tactics, boating operation and tactics, and more. Sgt. Jones is also a field training officer for the Division and assists the National Park Service in training their new rangers in operations on Lake Powell.
Sgt. Jones is a leader in Boating Under the Influence enforcement and arrests on the water. Not only is he focused on removing and eliminating impaired operators from Utah’s waterways, but he also focuses on educating boaters on the dangers of BUI and other safe boating practices.
Sgt. Jones has left a great impact on many of his fellow officers. He has shaped many of Utah’s officers’ careers by being an outstanding mentor, leader and friend. Sgt. Jones continues to show immense patience when teaching new officers the boating basics, and goes the extra mile to ensure that they have ample opportunity to practice these new skills.
Many would say that Sgt. Jones has dedicated his life to being proficient in his job and sharing his knowledge with others. He is known to have high expectations for his officers, because he wants them to be prepared for whatever happens while on the water. Sgt. Jones does not simply teach these habits, but he has led his fellow officers by example.
It is no doubt that Sgt. Jones has saved countless lives and prevented many injuries throughout the course of his career on Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Whether this was due to boating citations and arrests on the water, or the wealth of knowledge and insight he shared with his fellow officers, he has truly made a difference on Utah’s waterways. Congratulations Sergeant Jones!
I would now like to give Utah’s BLA, Ty Hunter, the opportunity to say a few words…
TY HUNTER:
Yes, thanks Darren. I appreciate that.
There's not much to say after this, after that write-up, Jared. Well, I guess those words are not going to do at all as much justice as what Jared actually deserves.
I do want to put one thing in here - this a text from Jared on his last patrol day. This is towards, this is in the evening, and I'll put it in quotes here, “So…just witnessed a paddleboard with two occupants and a dog, capsize with no PFDs in Warm Creek Bay. I was heading over to help; the child was with the board and mom was swimming after the dog. She, mom, started bobbing under as I pulled alongside, and then she goes under. I barely got a hand on her before I went over.” And then, I will put in here, because this is something we all smile about, because this is Jones as it is. “Close *expletive* call, I didn't need that *expletive* on my last day.”
This is just the caliber of employee that the state of Utah is going to be losing when Jared retires. I know that we had him slated to retire in October, but we were able to talk him into a few more months and stuff there. But I just want to personally say, Jared to you, happy trails on your retirement life and wish you the best my friend!
DARREN RIDER:
Thanks, Ty. Well, congratulations Jared! Not only on the award, but also retirement. So, now if you would like to provide a few words, please do so…
JARED JONES:
Well, I just wanted to thank NASBLA, and my department, Division of Parks and Recreation, for giving me the opportunity to do what I did for the last 20 years. I had a lot of fun doing it. I met a lot of really cool people doing it. I got to help shape careers of a lot of good rangers, that are currently awesome and a bunch that are getting there.
So, I appreciate the opportunity. And although I don't seek recognition, I do appreciate all the effort that went in by Ty and other members of the division writing up nice things about me over the course of my career.
DARREN RIDER:
Thanks, Jared. So, my final comments - NASBLA would like to thank you for your efforts to act as a leader for other officers throughout the state of Utah and for your dedication to protecting all boaters out on the water. Congratulations Sergeant Jared Jones!
JARED JONES:
Thanks.
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Watch the full NASBLA Northern Region Officer of the Year recognition video on NASBLA's Vimeo channel!