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Man drowns as Arizona police watch: 'I'm not jumping in after you'
Washington Post (via SF Gate) ^ | 6/6/2022 | By Julian Mark

Posted on 06/06/2022 3:50:27 PM PDT by NohSpinZone

Just after 5 a.m. on May 28, Tempe police officers responded to an apparent disturbance between Bickings and a woman at the Tempe Center for the Arts, which sits on a promenade along the Tempe Town Lake, a reservoir in the city. In its statement, the city referred to Bickings as "unsheltered."

Body-camera footage released by the city shows officers approach and speak to a woman who identified herself as Bickings's wife. As she picked up her belongings off the ground, she explained that she and Bickings sometimes have disagreements but said that he did not physically harm her.

Two of the officers then walked over to Bickings, who was seated on a bench facing the water, according to the body-camera footage. By this point, the officers were running the couple's names for outstanding warrants, a standard procedure, according to the city. The police later said Bickings had three outstanding warrants, the Arizona Republic reported.

But those did not come up during Bickings's encounter with police, according to the body-camera footage, which shows the officers trying to make small talk with Bickings as they ran the check.

That's when Bickings slowly climbed over a short fence dividing the boardwalk and the water. When one of the officers asked what Bickings was doing, Bickings replied that he was going "for a swim."

"I'm free to go, right?" Bickings asked.

The officers said he was not allowed to swim in the lake, but Bickings waded in and started swimming a freestyle stroke toward a bridge, according to the body-camera footage.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: arizona; drowns; reservoir; tempe
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To: NohSpinZone

He needed a lifeguard and a psychiatrist not a cop 🤪


81 posted on 06/06/2022 6:02:38 PM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say it)
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To: A Formerly Proud Canadian

“you HAVE signed on for saving the lives of drowning suicide victims”

NOPE! Heck, there is no guarantee a cop can swim. At least, not in Phoenix! And for a marginal swimmer to jump in and try to save a bigger guy? Pretty close to suicide. No cop signs up to die for nothing.

Totally different from an active shooter.


82 posted on 06/06/2022 6:04:20 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (We're a nation of feelings, not thoughts.)
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To: Menehune56
The media are saddling up on this story for obvious reasons.

I didn't understand, but I do now.

Still, this is just one more story that confirms that the cops are not your friends. They aren't on your side. They have no obligation to help you.

83 posted on 06/06/2022 6:05:26 PM PDT by Mr.Unique (My boss wants me to sign up for a 401K. No way I'm running that far! )
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To: logi_cal869
I can’t fault the officers.

Fair. I'm not gonna cheer for them either.

84 posted on 06/06/2022 6:07:16 PM PDT by Mr.Unique (My boss wants me to sign up for a 401K. No way I'm running that far! )
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To: Blurb2350

Correct. In every state of the union they have no legal liability to protect you; except for some specific instances where you’re being detained/arrested, IIRC.


85 posted on 06/06/2022 6:07:49 PM PDT by curious7
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To: packrat35; Reno89519

“More on FR need to learn this, but they will probably only learn the hard way.”

And it will happen soon. There is a younger generation of woke cops out there now who have absolutely no respect for the public, let alone older folks.


86 posted on 06/06/2022 6:08:54 PM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: max americana
I dont get anti-=cop conservatives on FR.

Is your boyfriend a cop?

87 posted on 06/06/2022 6:09:52 PM PDT by Mr.Unique (My boss wants me to sign up for a 401K. No way I'm running that far! )
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To: StAnDeliver

“...there was surely a life ring nearby...”

I’ve lived near lakes with parks all of my life and never saw a life ring. At the areas with the sandy beach swimming area sure - but not along all the trails and paths that go around the lakes.


88 posted on 06/06/2022 6:12:13 PM PDT by 21twelve (Ever Vigilant. Never Fearful.)
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To: Mr.Unique

“Is your boyfriend a cop?”

No, I got it from your wife and daughter who got down and dirty with me.


89 posted on 06/06/2022 6:28:21 PM PDT by max americana (Fired leftards at work since 2018 at every election just to see them cry. I hate them all.)
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To: Menehune56

Anonymous sources tell us the police said they would have saved him if he were white. /s


90 posted on 06/06/2022 6:34:04 PM PDT by FreedomForce
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To: Lurker

“I’m not a cop.
He is. “

Your point?
Is a LEO responsible to give his life in a questionable circumstance for just any idiot?
Apparently you think so. Have I got that wrong ?


91 posted on 06/06/2022 6:35:44 PM PDT by A strike ("My country sux" is grounds for asylum?!?)
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To: Dogbert41

Durn near lost a five dollar hand cart.😏


92 posted on 06/06/2022 6:38:32 PM PDT by BiteYourSelf ( Earth first we'll strip mine the other planets later.)
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To: A strike

“ Is a LEO responsible to give his life in a questionable circumstance for just any idiot?”

They won’t even do it for a room full of 10 year olds being slaughtered so apparently expecting anything at all from them is unreasonable these days.

L


93 posted on 06/06/2022 6:38:41 PM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: Menehune56

this guy is very meaty
possibly on drugs
he could have easily drowned cops trying to help him against his will

Mr. Unsheltered owns this. Not the cops.


94 posted on 06/06/2022 6:39:19 PM PDT by SisterK (recognize and resist tyranny)
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To: NohSpinZone
If he fell in I would say they should have gone in after him.

In this case I am kind of torn.

He jumped in, refused to come out, could swim, did not make any attempt to go to where he could hang on until rescued.

I guess my question is were there no ropes or floats they could have tossed to him?

95 posted on 06/06/2022 6:44:10 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (It is better to light a single flame thrower then curse the darkness. A bunch of them is better yet)
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To: NohSpinZone

If you are not a trained lifeguard, you may very well drown in an attempt to save someone else. And if that person is suicidal, even a trained lifeguard is liable to be drowned.


96 posted on 06/06/2022 6:47:52 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Inside every leftist is a blood-thirsty fascist yearning to be free of current societal constraints.)
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To: Lurker

Nice (NOT) deflection.


97 posted on 06/06/2022 6:51:42 PM PDT by A strike ("My country sux" is grounds for asylum?!?)
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To: A strike

Cops get paid to risk their lives.

This cop was measured and found wanting.

Period.

L


98 posted on 06/06/2022 6:53:07 PM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: Lurker

“Cops get paid to risk their lives.

This cop was measured and found wanting.

Period.”

Have you lost your fieaikkin’ mind such as it is?
No LEO i “gets paid” to risk his life to save a suicidal person.


99 posted on 06/06/2022 7:07:34 PM PDT by A strike ("My country sux" is grounds for asylum?!?)
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To: kiryandil

Yup it happens

During life saving training you practice all sorts of scenarios so you can get some experience with them


100 posted on 06/06/2022 7:16:18 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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