The Pilot News - Body pulled from river

A man at the home said he tried to retrieve the subject but was unsuccessful. Officers observed the subject floating face down and quickly determined they could not wait for a boat.
Sgt. Scott Taylor and Chief Deputy Ron Patrick entered the river while Deputy Ryan Austin and Medaryville Officer Sherry Gaillard (who had been at the Criminal Justice center in Winamac when the 911 call came in) spotted from shore.
Taylor, in chest-deep water, intercepted the subject and he and Patrick pulled her to shore.
Officers checked for vital signs and found none. At this time, according to a press release, the EMS arrived and the subject did not respond to revival attempts. The coroner was summoned.
The woman was identified as Pamela Lacour, 45, of Chicago.
Sheriff Gayer requested the Indiana State Police helicopter to assist in an aerial search to confirm there were no more victims, on the chance it had been a boating accident. No other victims were found.
A K-9 unit arrived, and the investigation was turned over to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) which has jurisdiction on state properties. The DNR dive team and Winamac Fire Department’s boat were used to aid in the search.
Deputies found the woman’s vehicle in the area of 250 North and 225 East, near Haschel’s Bridge, about a mile upstream from where the victim was found.
“For officers to enter the river t this time of year to attempt a rescue is above and beyond,” Gayer said. “As cold as the water is, you can only be in for a few minutes before hypothermia takes you. Fortunately, the water was only about chest deep, but when my officers went in, they did not know how deep the water was or if there were any holes in the area.
“They made the decision to try to save someone at the risk of their own lives. Unfortunately, the rescue turned out to be a recovery, but officers were acting on the possibility of saving a life. I commend the four officers involved and hope the county is as proud of them as I am.”