Where's the Hoff when you need him?

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-first-responders-watch-man-drown,0,362693.story

First Responders Watch Man Drown, Do Nothing to Help

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- City officials have changed their policies after first responders watched a man drown in San Francisco Bay and did nothing to rescue him.

The man was apparently suicidal, CNN affiliate KTVU reported.

After he entered the bay off Alameda Beach on Monday and stood in neck-deep water, then treaded water, police and firefighters who were called to the scene did not set foot in the bay.

The events of Memorial Day were "very difficult and very regrettable," Alameda Interim Fire Chief Michael D'Orazi told CNN Wednesday.

Two things prevented authorities from taking action, he said.

First, because it was a crime scene, the police department was in charge.

"They felt that going into the water initially might not be the best idea because they were unsure if this individual was armed, the stability of the individual," D'Orazi said.

Also, "there was a policy in place that pretty much precluded our people from entering the water."

That has been changed, he said. "We will be putting into effect a new policy which allows our commander discretion after these circumstances."

The firefighters on the beach "were incredibly frustrated by this whole situation," he said, adding that "they wanted to get in, they wanted to take action."

Local officials said that because of a lack of funding for shore-to-water rescue, firefighters had no one properly trained to go into the water, KTVU reported.

"It's muddy out there. We don't want them sinking. We don't want them in distress," Alameda Interim Police Chief Michael Noonan said in the KTVU report.

One local resident, addressing officials at a meeting about the incident, said, "It just strikes me as unbelievably callous that nobody there with any sort of training could strip off their gear and go and help this person."

In the interview with CNN, D'Orazi said that if firefighters had chosen to enter the water despite the policies, he "wouldn't have an issue with that." But the situation should not recur, because the policies have been changed, he said.

News reports said a woman ultimately tried to save the drowning man, but was too late, and ended up pulling his body to shore

Sometimes I think that suicidals should just be left to their devices. It takes a lot to decide that you want to drown yourself, and the excecution isn't easy either. Clearly he had thought this process through, and WANTED to die.

I have no problem with letting someone off themselves if that's what they want but it sounds like the city has noone to help in case of an accident either.

In reply to Maroon92:

Yeah, his mistake was not working up his courage before he got there. You can't ponder the issue while a crowd gathers around you.

Brilliant ploy to get more funding out of a cash-strapped state!

Very, very few people swim well enough, much less know the techniques, to go out after a drowning person. This is a guess, but I'd bet 50% of city-dwelling adults can't swim at all.

I'm impressed by their discipline. None of the firemen or cops I know would just do nothing and watch this happen simply because a work rule forbid it.

Of minor note. I grew up in Alameda and know that beach. It is a very shallow beach with a muddy bottom and tends to have patches of seaweed.

It is very likely the guy was a good 100 yards off the beach, depending on the tides (although I don't think anyone goes there at low tide, very muddy), so they weren't standing right next to him, not that that really matters.

My girlfriend was telling me about this yesterday. Her theory was the chief was thinking "This guy is a psycho who will be a hazard to anyone who tries to rescue him, and he's not worth the risk." But was able to avoid any trouble by saying, "Policy said we couldn't. My hands were tied."

chuckles wrote: Very, very few people swim well enough, much less know the techniques, to go out after a drowning person. This is a guess, but I'd bet 50% of city-dwelling adults can't swim at all.

Add in possible mental issues and him fighting back it be a heck of a struggle to get him to shore.