WATERVILLE — Mayor Karen Heck, on behalf of the city council, has recognized four local police officers for heroism in the line of duty.

During a city council meeting this week, Heck read proclamations recognizing Sgt. Lincoln Ryder, Det. Dave Caron, Det. Josh Woods and School Resource Officer Alan Main.

Heck called the officers’ actions “the kind of stuff that doesn’t generally get recognized.”

“I think that people take for granted the safety of our city, and I don’t,” Heck told the officers. “I really appreciate the fact that you are all here.”

Ryder rescued a 45-year-old man who had fallen from a 25-foot retaining wall while walking home from a party in the early morning hours of Aug. 24.

When the man was reported missing, Ryder identified the possible routes he may have taken home, according to the proclamation. Ryder then stopped and checked every embankment large enough to conceal a person along the routes until he found him on the east side of Carter Memorial Drive.

The victim had suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Maine General Hospital and eventually air lifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Meanwhile, Caron, Woods and Main were recognized for their roles saving a bicyclist who was struck by a van Aug. 27 on Main Street while leaving the Elm Plaza Shopping Center.

The bicyclist, Matthew Grover, 28, was dragged more than 20 feet by the van, which he was pinned under.

The three officers rushed to the scene and found a way to jack the vehicle off Grover, according to the proclamation.

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