SF policy causes crews to watch man commit suicide

[Ricky]

Source - http://www.gopusa.com/news/2011/06/01/sf-policy-causes-crews-to-watch-while-man-commits-suicide/

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A 50-year-old man waded into the San Francisco Bay, stood up to his neck and waited. A Coast Guard boat couldn't get into the shallow water, and fire crews said they couldn't rescue him because of a policy that strictly forbade such attempts.

Finally, a witness went in after him, pulling his lifeless body from the bay.

"We expected to see at some point that there would be a concern for him," another witness, Gary Barlow, told KGO-TV.

Alameda officials said Tuesday they'll change the island city's water rescue policy after the apparently suicidal man died in the 54-degree water.

Interim Fire Chief Mike D'Orazi called Monday's incident troubling and said he directed staff to write a new policy that would allow commanders at the scene to attempt a water rescue in Alameda, a city of about 75,000 people across the bay from San Francisco.

The previous policy was implemented after budget cuts forced the department to discontinue water rescue training and stop maintaining wetsuits and other rescue gear, D'Orazi said.

"The incident yesterday was deeply regrettable," he said. "But I can also see it from our firefighters' perspective. They're standing there wanting to do something, but they are handcuffed by policy at that point."

Fire crews and police watched as the man, identified by authorities only as an Alameda resident in his early 50s, stood up to his neck off Crown Memorial State Beach, witnesses told the television station. Perry Smith, another witness, said the man was visible from the shore and was looking at people.

A police official said the decision was difficult, but officers did not have the gear for the cold water and couldn't risk being pulled under.

"Certainly this was tragic, but police officers are tasked with ensuring public safety, including the safety of personnel who are sent to try to resolve these kinds of situations," Alameda police Lt. Sean Lynch said.

D'Orazi also said crews may have decided it was too risky to attempt the rescue, even if they had not been shackled by the restrictions on water rescues.

In addition to the new policy, Alameda fire personnel will receive training in water rescues, and rescue equipment will be inspected to make sure it is not damaged, D'Orazi said.

The Coast Guard was called to the scene, but the water was too shallow for a boat, according to Lynch. A Coast Guard helicopter was apparently not immediately available.

There are no lifeguards at the beach, said Isa Polt-Jones, a spokeswoman with the East Bay Regional Park District. Signs at the park advise swimmers to enter the water at their own risk.

 

[rstrader1471]

Thanks for posting this mate. Some people really do make up stupid rules and policies. If the guys going to kill himself your natural instinct is to save the guy, I guess not doe most of the people who were there.

 

[kill dank]

I don't give a shit what the policy is. If I were a firefighter or rescue worker, or police man in that situation, I would have saved him. If the policy wouldn't let me do it, I would have taken my uniform or clothes off and said "I'm off duty now." Then, jumped in to save him.

If he was easily able to be saved, why didn't anyone do it?
ridiculous.

 

[Rsaccounttrader]

That had nothing to do with the policy...if they could have done it they would have. The issue was that they didn't have to proper gear to not risk death themselves.

 

[kill dank]

That had nothing to do with the policy...if they could have done it they would have. The issue was that they didn't have to proper gear to not risk death themselves.

""Finally, a witness went in after him, pulling his lifeless body from the bay.""

I'm pretty sure if a bystander was able to go in and get him, the people with at least SOME gear could have done something.

 

[neo coolboy]

I just think its dumb that some one always has to die BEFORE a policy is changed...

For real though I agree with Kill Dank^ When you sign up for the job, you sign up to protect and serve society. And if a dumb policy gets in your way then you should ignore it. He would have probably been praised and not fired for saving the man anyways.

 

[Awesome Stranger]

Honestly, if the man wants to die, all power to him.

But, I can understand the uproar caused by this.

 

[JstarD]

Common sense should prevail, obviously fucking not

 

[oblivion9032]

If that citizen could go and save him, the firemen could have even with the policy in place. I doubt they would have done anything to them if they did rescue the man.

 

[xook]

That citizen was obviously crazier than any of the City Workers... I myself would have NOT gone into the 50degree water. That citizen is crazy as shit.

 

[Flight]

50 degrees really isn't that cold...

Here in Wisconsin, people go swimming in Lake Michigan during the Winter months as part of a group that's called "The Polar Plunge." He must of been sitting in that water for a good 30-45min before his organs shut down.

But 54 degrees really isn't that cold, I would have jumped in there but not sure if I would have pulled him in considering he was suicidal.