Two police officers saved from pier drowning
Local authorities rescued two off-duty Inglewood police officers Sunday night, saving them from drowning in big surf and a strong rip current at the Manhattan Beach pier.
Authorities did not know why IPD officers John Thompson, 32, and Dustin Wise, 29, decided to take a dip in the rough, 58 degree water. Police reports indicated that both men had been drinking alcohol before they entered the water.
Although L.A. County Lifeguard Captain Mike Patterson called the incident a “pier jump rescue,” police have not confirmed that the pair entered the water by jumping off the pier — a misdemeanor in the city.
“The incident is currently under review and investigation,” Manhattan Beach Police Sgt. Chris Vargas said.
L.A. County Lifeguards and the Manhattan Beach police and fire departments responded shortly after 7 p.m. when a call came in of a possible drowning under the pier.
“There was a guy holding onto the pilings at the end of the north side of the pier, near the roundhouse,” said Manhattan Beach Fire Captain Dave Shenbaum, one of the first responders. “He was screaming for help and saying that he couldn’t hold on much longer.”
Shenbaum, who is also a part-time lifeguard, jumped into the water, while MBPD officers stood on the pier handing down flotation devices.
“I grabbed him, got him on a flotation device and then took a bunch of sets,” Shenbaum said. “There was a ripping lateral current. I was concerned we were going to ping-pong ball through the pier pilings.”
Lifeguards soon joined them under the pier and helped paddle the rescued officer to shore. Shenbaum described the victim as hysterical, apologetic, and thankful — at which point he told authorities about the other man.
“We thought we heard somebody screaming,” Patterson said. The victims’ girlfriends, watching from the pier, confirmed the second officer was in the water.
Patterson jumped into the water after spotting the man 40 yards south of the end of the pier in a hard surf break and followed him to shore.
“He was a very strong swimmer and basically made it ashore on his own,” Patterson said.
Thompson and Wise suffered abrasions and lacerations from clinging to sharp barnacle-encrusted pilings. They were treated at a local hospital, according to the IPD. After receiving treatment, both officers were released and took their regularly scheduled days off before returning to work.
The IPD praised the work of local authorities.
“Their swift action prevented a tragic outcome for the families of the two officers and the Inglewood Police Department,” IPD Lt. Oscar Serrano wrote in a press release.
Both officers denied jumping off the pier and were there no eyewitness accounts, according to Vargas, leaving little likelihood that charges will be pressed against the officers.
Shenbaum attributed the success of the rescue to the collaborative effort of multiple departments.
“It really was a group effort by the fire department, police department, and lifeguards working together,” he said. “All three departments train annually for this exact situation. This was a great example where it worked.”
In December, two intoxicated women jumped off the pier and were rescued by the MBPD. ER