Should the Police Officers who watched a child drown, be charged with Manslaughter?

Question

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ7t3T41ang
because they were not trained to enter water they refused to help the child who was drowning. Unfortunatly he died. I cant swim well but I would be damned if I didnt jump in and try to save this kid

You don;t think this is "Depraved indifference"? God Help us

@namsaev, NO-ONE filmed the incident DUH, I am saying I would LAY MY LIFE down for a fellow human, and these 2 Wannabee Policman didn't act becasue they would rather BE right than DO right

@David B
Yes there is, it's called
BASIC HUMANITY

@trooper3316
I salute you as an Officer and I agree, why WERE they there unsupervised, but really, this is a situation where the Child could have been saved but for bureaucracy

Answer 1

As a police officer, I am disappointed with that story. Not knowing how to swim would be the only argument I would even consider, but this was not metioned. No officer is trained for everything, but they should have at least made an effort.

I am concerned that the story is one sided, and therefore may not be totally accurate. If the reporter was interested in the whole story, she would have asked why two children, ages 8 and 10 were swimming without supervision.

Answer 2

Is all and sundry scuffling with to think of why the babies have been left to play around and swim in deep and unsafe water unsupervised through the mothers and fathers? Why did not they bounce in to help themselves in the event that they have been there? is this not a variety of youngster forget? additionally - does all and sundry surely comprehend the top circumstances under which the help officers "left" the youngster to drown? Did they comprehend the place he replaced into, via fact from the comments i've got examine, he replaced into totally submerged and out of sight through the time they arrived. What ought to they have finished - long gone in blind to scour the floor of the lake? If all and sundry can enlighten me with information i might think of otherwise, yet i will't help thinking that public opinion is in all probability being blighted through mothers and fathers who would be feeling a undeniable point of guilt themselves, and attempting to show the finger of blame at human beings. don't get me incorrect, if I had come around the placement and felt able to help, i could have been in and not utilizing a moments hesitation, useful swimmer or not, yet I purely each and every now and then ask your self how the media skews public opinion against an already unpopular concern. assemble each and every of the information first, and not inevitably from the media!

Answer 3

Failure to render every assistance to a person in grave danger is on the books in most -if not all- European countries as a big no-no,with stiff penalties..

I know that in our country sometimes a normal citizen will not intervene to help someone because victims have been known to sue their ¨saviour´afterwards. (¨ oh,what a beautiful piece of work is man!!!¨)

But for police officers to do this must surely be dereliction of duty and should be punishable by law.

One of my classmates,a poor swimmer, jumped into a raging river to save an old woman and my classmate drowned. This was 40 years ago and I have never forgotten her bravery and her sacrifice. She wasn't trained either.

After Katrina we also saw policemen abandoning their posts.
Fortunately, we also saw police and firemen in NY doing their duty with no thought for their lives.

In the end it comes down to the moral worth of each individual.

Answer 4

When evaluating a situation such as this you have to take into consideration whether or not attempting to do something would make the situation worse or not. While the very real danger the child was in is terrible, sending in someone who is not trained and experienced in water rescue would make for TWO victims (or more) and not just one. Your actions, while commendable and understandable, were likely to endanger YOUR life as well. The best thing you could have done was be a good witness and stayed out of the water.

Answer 5

If they called for help that was all they can do.

If your not trained do not half *** it. Stay out of the water and call for help. The only thing that happens when an idiot that cant swim jumps in is another person to rescue or another body to pull from the river.

Answer 6

I only heard this on the radio, and I think it's awfully sad. If they did absolutely nothing (not even calling fellow officers), then they should at least be dismissed. I'm sure they'll argue in court though that they can't swim, and/or weren't trained properly. I agree with you, I can't swim at all, but I would at least shout or call for help.

Answer 7

When I put on my uniform I add 38lbs. Couple that with a movement restricting vest, heavy boots, and a weight belt around your middle.

If an officer jumps in the water like that, they will end up as the second victim.

Now with there being a second officer there I might try to get everything off and jump in as long as my equipment could be secured, but not being trained as a rescue swimmer trying to save another person in water can end up getting you drown as they pull you under with them.

As the saying goes it is better to be tried by 12 then carried by 6.

Answer 8

Generally, there is no duty to act to save, for example a drowning child. However, here are times when you must act to save a drowning child.

1. If you start to save the drowning child, and you quit before saving the child. You had a duty to save the child.
2. If you placed the child in the pool so he/she started drowning, then you have a duty.
3. If there is a special relationship. For example, parent has duty to save child. Also, shopkeepers, hotel owners and those who control buses/planes/trains have a duty to help their guests.

Answer 9

Why didn't the person who spent the time to film the thing do something? Oh they weren't trained either?

Now what makes them different? How typical. You blame one side but not the other.

Answer 10

I noticed the passers-by that rescued the girl BEFORE the officers arrived did not rescue the boy. Why is that? Perhaps they considered it too dangerous without proper training and/or equipment.

With all due respect, you have no idea how you would have acted had you been there.