To Serve and Protect...Check That! Aw Fuck It...Shoot Me!

Sharky&Sharky want to thank a unknown man, Raymond Zack, for being our own Tunisia suicide victim. Mr. Zack's death symbolizes the pit that America has fallen to and the rationalizations, cheap excuses, legal avoidance, we now give to justify the sorry asses we have become.


Think about this; bravery was not required. Our hero was not in a burning building. He was a sick person screaming for help by his calm awaiting of death. Here are some quotes from Firegeezer, where you can read a full story. 

The Alameda Police and Fire Departments both responded quickly, but the gathered first-responders just stood on the shore and watched the man. The FD called the U. S. Coast Guard to respond and 20 minutes later they showed up with a boat that was unable to navigate the shallow waters where he man was standing. Next came a call for the Coast Guard's rescue helicopter that was already on another mission. When it was free from that task, it had to be refueled before responding to Alameda and arrived on scene about 65 minutes after the dispatch.

But catch this continued display of governmental uselessness from the NY Post:

The Coast Guard was called to the scene, but the water was too shallow for a boat, according to Lynch, {Almeda Police Lieutenant}. A Coast Guard helicopter was apparently not immediately available.

Firegeezer indicates that:

The FD called the U. S. Coast Guard to respond and 20 minutes later they showed up with a boat that was unable to navigate the shallow waters where he man was standing. Next came a call for the Coast Guard's rescue helicopter that was already on another mission. When it was free from that task, it had to be refueled before responding to Alameda and arrived on scene about 65 minutes after the dispatch.

Reminds one of a shaggy dog tail. Until you hear the poor soul's mother say according to the Chicago Tribune regret not being able to help:

Instead, the 84-year-old said she watched along with firefighters and police from the shore as he stood in the frigid, neck-deep water for about an hour before his body went limp. "I can't even walk. I am too old," Berry told the Oakland Tribune, recounting her stepson Raymond Zack's death on Monday in the waters off Alameda. "But if I could, I would have tried to help him myself." Berry and witnesses who watched Zack, 52, from the shore have criticized police and firefighters for not intervening to prevent his death.

Do you think that these guys are prepared to save a man awaiting drowning:

Alameda police officers and firefighters stand by and
watch the man slowly die. (ABC7 News image)

As you read the references you will see that there a few different excuses being offered:

1. There is no money to train police and fire in water rescue
2. Alameda is not certified in land based water rescues
3. Not my job; it is the Coast Guards job.
4. We followed policy
5. We did not save him for health and safety reasons {obviously not Mr. Zack's health or safety}

But don't worry America or Alameda. Interim Chief Michael D'Orazi states that:

he is going to meet with the police chief to discuss what happened on Sunday. He has also ordered a rewrite of the water rescue policy and has announced that firefighters will begin rescue swimming training immediately. After all ,they work for a city that calls themselves a city of homes and beaches.

Well pass the grits and rewrite the policy. Glad you are on the case Mike.

Well to complete this sorry tale. The body was retrieved by Nurse that happened to be passing by. She swam out 50 yards and brought Mr Zack's remains in.

Firefighters followed department policy, staying out of the water. They even had to rely on a 20-year-old woman to volunteer and retrieve Zack's body from the ocean.

Again thank you Mr. Zack for in your death we see how fucked we have become. Just shoot me!

Sharky&Sharky©