AFSCME Local 3566 Members Step Up: Park Rangers Recognized for Life-Saving Rescue at Mercer Lake
Just before sunset on October 19, 2025, the calm of Mercer Lake was broken by strong winds, cold water, and an urgent call for help. A hiker had spotted a capsized sailboat out on the water, with an individual clinging to the overturned vessel. The conditions were dangerous, the water temperature was low, and high winds were pushing the boat further from shore. Time was not on anyone’s side.
AFSCME Local 3566 members Park Ranger Scott Bartlett and Senior Park Ranger Keith Allen immediately responded. Without hesitation, they moved rescue equipment through wooded trails to get a visual on the distressed boater. When they located the capsized sailboat, they called out to the individual to see if he could swim to shore. The answer was alarming: his legs were tangled in the ropes of the sail, trapping him in the frigid water.
Bartlett and Allen quickly recognized that shore-based rescue equipment would not be enough. The boater was too far out, the wind was too strong, and the cold was rapidly affecting him. They made the split-second decision to launch the Ranger Patrol Boat, knowingly putting themselves at risk in rough water to prevent a life-threatening situation from turning tragic.
When they reached the overturned boat, the trapped individual told them he was extremely cold and he was visibly tired and waterlogged. The two Rangers worked together to finish untangling him, and Ranger Bartlett physically lifted him out of the water and onto the patrol vessel. The boater was safely brought to shore, where he received care and recovered.
Later, in an email to the Park Ranger Director, the rescued individual wrote:
“It’s comforting to know the caliber of the employees you’ve assigned to the serious work of protecting our parks, and I would like to sincerely thank you all for the help.”
Local 3566 Treasurer Ryan Shaw has worked closely with both Rangers and says their dedication is no surprise to anyone who knows them. “Working alongside Rangers Allen and Bartlett to keep our parks safe has always been motivating.”
Shaw explained that Ranger Allen’s decades of service have shaped countless Rangers over the years. “Ranger Allen, who has been a Ranger for over 25 years, provided me with very valuable wisdom about how to be an effective Ranger. He is the ideal mentor, not just to myself, but all Rangers who join our team. It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that he was able to formulate a plan quickly to save that boater. His experience is simply priceless to us.”
He also reflected on growing in the field alongside Ranger Bartlett. “Ranger Bartlett and I started with the Rangers around the same time. I was excited to grow my skills alongside him, especially since he was always very eager to train and learn. I know that Ranger Bartlett is a very big recreational outdoorsman, and I’m sure much of that knowledge combined with Ranger Allen’s experience to ensure the rescue had a positive outcome.”
Shaw’s words highlight what the Mercer County community witnessed that evening on Mercer Lake: professionalism, experience, teamwork, and the unshakable commitment AFSCME members bring to the job every day.
For their courage, rapid response, and commitment to protecting the public, even at personal risk, Rangers Bartlett and Allen were awarded Employee of the Month by the Mercer County Park Commission for October.
Their actions remind us what public service truly means. Our parks are safe because trained professionals show up every day ready to act because it’s their duty and their calling. AFSCME members do the work that keeps our communities safe. Rangers Bartlett and Allen are extraordinary examples of that commitment.
We are proud to call them union brothers, and we congratulate them on their well-deserved recognition.