Two days after St. Helens’ top staffer went missing after falling into the Columbia River, local officials said Monday that the search for city administrator John Walsh had transitioned to a recovery effort. He is presumed dead.

Officers with the St. Helens Police Department and deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office now plan a wider search, on both sides of the river, looking for his remains.

Walsh reportedly fell into the river near the city’s docks on Saturday, at roughly 10:30 p.m. Details about his fall into the water remain scarce, but Walsh was not seen returning to the surface.

Communications Manager Crystal King wrote in a press release that law enforcement doesn’t suspect foul play.

King wrote that Walsh “accidentally fell into the water.”

“We are grieving alongside his family right now,” King wrote. “There have been moments of tears and moments of laughter and all the mixed emotions that come with the loss of someone you have known for so long.”

The news followed a multi-day search effort.

A person reportedly called police soon after Walsh fell in the river on Saturday, kickstarting a search that lasted until about 3:30 a.m.

The search resumed on Sunday again, but to no avail.

City leaders held an emergency meeting Sunday night where they named the city’s finance director, Gloria Butsch, as his interim replacement.

“Search efforts were initially concentrated around the St. Helens City docks area,” King wrote in her statement. “In addition to ground and boat teams, law enforcement has utilized an aerial drone, underwater ROV, and a dive team in the search for Walsh.”

City officials plan to set up a memorial for Walsh near Columbia View Park, overlooking the river, King said.

“We understand that John was more than just a City Administrator,” said St. Helens Mayor Jennifer Massey. “He and his family live here and are involved as community members. They have touched many people’s lives, and we hope that providing this tribute location is a way for the St. Helens community to come together, grieve together, and begin to heal.”

Jerry Cole, the mayor of neighboring city Rainier, told OPB that Walsh was well-liked in the community and seemed to have a very positive attitude in life.

“He was genuinely one of those guys. I never heard him say anything bad about somebody,” Cole said. “He always seemed happy and tried to make a difference.”

St. Helens City Hall will be closed to the public for the rest of the week, King said, except for a scheduled St. Helens City Council meeting on Wednesday and for hearings at St. Helens Municipal Court on Thursday morning.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/15/st-helens-city-administrator-presumed-dead-as-search-transitions-to-recovery-effort/