LEO's don't provide medical aid. You know that, so let's not get into it. Now, how many police officers does it take to "handle the media"? And what are they "handling"? Be specific.
And they are handling this situation, as opposed to dealing with their other tasks.
Again, what are they "handling"? I've never seen or heard of law enforcment being involved in mountain rescue. They have no training in it either, so it seems they;d just be in the way.
Paying the Price for RescueThis case and many like it are times agencies could consider charging rescue subjects for a small portion of their services. A 4-year-old Oregon law gives search agencies the authority to charge subjects of search and rescues up to $500 a piece when "reasonable care" was not used and when "applicable laws were violated."
But officials say the reimbursement law is a tool they will begin use in appropriate cases to recover lost taxpayer dollars and send a message to persons who place search and rescue personnel, themselves and others in danger.
While rescue units have a high sympathy threshold for the lost and unlucky, they are sometimes irked by the cases they encounter. A few examples:
• A search for three hikers caught in a snowstorm on Mount Hood cost taxpayers about $10,000 in March 1995. More than 100 people searched for the three college students, who in fact were well-equipped, warm and safe. The three waited the storm out in their tent playing cards. The hikers were not carrying a cellular-phone or radio locator unit. The incident prompted the 1995 reimbursement legislation.