Marine Deputy Thomas Ernest Rice

Thomas Ernest Rice

Marine Deputy Thomas Rice was killed in a helicopter accident at 1600 hours while conducting a search and rescue mission for an elderly woman who was believed to have drowned in the Rogue River.

A local pilot offered his services and helicopter to conduct the search and Deputy Rice accompanied him. During the search, the helicopter struck a wire just downstream from the O-K Corral used to ferry supplies across the river.

Deputy Rice's mother-in-law, Police Matron Alice Moran, was killed in an on-duty airplane accident on November 17, 1971, while serving with the Josephine County Sheriff's Department.

Deputy Rice had been employed with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office for nine years, and is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.