Photo: E+
TeeRoy's 2 Cents:
Not only did the officers not seem to care, they even appeared to mock him at times. It's totally unacceptable.
The second he climbed over the railing they should have grabbed him.
The original police report noted that officers immediately began rescue efforts, but the bodycam footage clearly shows otherwise.
It would have been dangerous for officers to jump in after him, but they still made no effort to help him.
Three police officers in Tempe, Arizona are accused of ignoring a drowning man's pleas for help and allowing him to die in a reservoir.
Bodycam footage of the May 28th incident was recently released showing 34-year-old Sean Bickings, a man police described as an "unsheltered" member of the community, being questioned by three officers. After a background check turned up three outstanding warrants for him, Bickings calmly climbed over a railing and sat on the edge of the lake. He asked police if he was free to go and one officer told him, "You can't swim in the lake." But Bickings ignored him and jumped in as officers made no effort to stop him. As they watched him swim further into the lake, one officer asks another, "How far do you think he’s going to be able to swim?”
Moments later, Bickings is heard saying “I’m going to drown. I’m going to drown." One of the officers then responded, "No, you’re not,” and “OK, I’m not jumping in after you.” Meanwhile, a woman claiming to be Bickings' wife begged officers to rescue him, but she was told to "stop talking." Moments later, one officer noted that Bickings disappeared underwater and had not come up for more than 30 seconds. His body was pulled from the reservoir hours later. The three officers have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues. (USA Today)