Should police officers be required to save drowning victims?

CGIV76

I believe that almost everyone should be required to at least attempt to save a drowning victim.

Josh

Being able to swim is not a qualification to be a police officer. Also, if you are not trained to save drowning victims, often all you'll accomplish is adding another victim.

mikeysco

No and no.

beardog4314

I suppose that depends. They should definitely try, but if the officer doesn't know how to swim, then jumping into the water isn't likely to help.

Bertie

An interesting point and this is aimed at all answering this on this site and others I've viewed,
From what I have read:
The PCSO's arrived at a lake covering a large area, by the photo it would appear quite a deep body of water. The child was completely submerged and no one could give an accurate point of where he was. Two people were already in the water. There was a casualty already (the little girl) and other emergency services lost in the area due to the directions given.
One PCSO went to the road to direct resources in and one stayed at the water's edge to assist.

Who can say exactly what they would do. I would like to think that I would go in, particuarly where a child is involved, but I'm not a great swimmer and would quite possibly add another casualty.
Those individuals made a decision in a split second and will probably go over and over it every day of their lives.

Each of us can comment on what we might do and how we might react, some how they have in the past, but to condemn two people in this way, no matter they're job title, is not right.

Officer

When I put on my uniform I add 38lbs of movement restricting gear. If I got into water that was over my head the odds of me making it out alive are not that good, much less trying to save someone else that is struggling.

Also if my department regulations prohibit it and even if I did save someone odds are I'd get fired and would have a rather hard time getting another job anywhere else.

All that being said, if I had another officer there and I knew the fire department was still quite a bit away I would loose the gear and jump in.

goofnick965

Saving someone is only in the movies. Sounds like officer lives in my area. He's worthless. Hope you are behind a desk and not on patrol. If you had any respect for mankind you need to give all of your pay back and apologize for pretending to be a cop.

joyce m

yes, that is considered part of the job, unless it puts their life in jeopardy i.e. fast moving river, etc. it is just like a medic passing a serious accident and not stopping. they could get in trouble for violating the law.

celeste1070

Yes, they should be required to, but more so they should want to. I would like to know though, where was this child's parents? Anybody know?

*****

That is part of their job.

Trippin

everybody thinks they are *** holes until they need their help. So would they

macaroni

You either save them a be a hero or be stuck doing all the paperwork.

brenderderder

To serve and to protect. They are there to save people and keep them from harm.

florida gal

That is part of being a public servant. They are hired to serve, protect, and save. If they can't swim then they shouldn't be an active/on-street police officer. When the time comes they can't perform those duties, then they should stay behind the desk. Now, don't misunderstand me...if the drowning person is in a place where the police officer can't get to then there is nothing he could do about that.

â˜†soaking in the blood of angelsâ˜†

you wanna know something crazy about drowning? in china it is illegal to save a drowning person because it is considered "interfering with their fate". that's crazy........

Eraserhead

That's a really sad article. I think any human being, regardless of their job title, should save another from drowning if possible. People standing by while a boy drowns in a pond...there's no excuse for that.

alexia's mommy

WELL THAT IS THEIR JOB!!!! THATS WHAT THEY GET PAID FOR AND WHERE ALL YOUR HARD ERNED MONEY GOES IS TAXES TO PAY THOSE WORTHLESS SOB'S.

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