If I was someone in the crowd of civilians, I wouldn't have done jack shiz either. If you got a squad of police officers and bunch of firefighters standing around doing nothing, I would be inclined to think if they ain't doin anything, they know something I don't. Like there was a shark there or something.
Everyone is complaining about the police and firefighters because rescue you know is their freaking job. It doesn't excuse all 75 on lookers, but God help Alameda if the on lookers are better trained than the police and firefighters.
This is the most important issue and not how cowardly the police, fire fighters and beach goers were.
that's jacked up. Making excuses about budgets and training and gear while the man kills himself? for an hour? DUTY TO RESCUE!
Apparently it wasn't their job, and they weren't trained. Sure they should have been, but once that becomes apparent that isn't the case, everybody is in the same boat. I find it hard to believe that not one out of 75+ people on a beach isn't a strong enough swimmer to go 100 yards to save a life.
Exactly. If you read between the lines a bit, one quote from a firefighter essentially places blame on the spectators, who, in my opinion, should take some of the blame. When he talks about his on-duty response versus his off-duty response, he's basically saying that he has a protocol to follow, but none of the spectator civilians do. They could have done something. Yeah, he's there to protect and serve, but I agree it's out of his realm. They should have a water rescue squad that responded.... My real opinion of this, though, is to think the outcry is stupid. People have been killing themselves for years. It's an extension of Natural Selection. If he wanted to kill himself, that's his choice. No reason for the police and fire fighters to even waste tax payers money taking that call. That's what lifeguards are for...
I'm not sure but these kinds of signs are everywhere when I go to the beach: And if he truly didn't want to be saved I can see how he would have possibly harmed or killed another.
The police weren't trained: "We're not trained to go into the water, obviously the type of gear that we have on, we don't have the type of equipment that you would use to go into the water," Alameda Police Lt. Joe McNiff said. The firefighers were trained, but not certified: The Alameda Fire Department says budget constraints are preventing it from recertifying its firefighters in land-based water rescues. Without it, the city would be open to liability. This guy knew what to do, but didn't for liability: " Well, if I was off duty I would know what I would do, but I think you're asking me my on-duty response and I would have to stay within our policies and procedures because that's what's required by our department to do," Alameda Fire Div. Chief Ricci Zombeck said when asked by ABC7 if he would enter the water to save a drowning child.
A long-standing tradition in bureaucracies: policies and procedures, as specified in code 34.9 of subsection 8 of section 12 of official form 245-30A, are vastly more important than actual human lives. p.s. in order for us to allow you to continue reading this internet bulletin board you need to fill out form 483.0SR2 (a criminal background check). Failure to do so may result in dismissal and/or prosecution at the administration's discretion.
I'm sorry, but if I wanted to donk myself off in the ocean, I would be pissed if people came out to get me and fight like hell. Let the man kill himself and not endanger anyone else.
If a person wants to kill himself, let them. They should have that right. Just don't do it in the public eye.
