As several law enforcement agencies investigate the incident, three Tempe police officers watched as a man was drowned in an Arizona river late last month. They were placed on “non-disciplinary, paid administrative leave”.
Officials from the city said that officers responded to a call regarding a disturbance at Tempe Center for the Arts just before 5 a.m. They found Sean Bickings (34), and his companion.
Officers spoke to an uncuffed Bickings aEUR”, who officials described to be an “unsheltered Tempe community members” aEUR,” while they ran their names through a database to verify for any outstanding warrants, authorities stated.
Bickings then climbed a fence and descended an embankment, before he began to swim in Tempe Town Lake. This is what police body camera footage of one officer shows.
The footage ends just before Bickings starts to struggle in water. However, the city provided a transcript from that location.
Bickings declares, “I’m drowning.”
Bickings tells him to swim up to the pylon.
The officer replies, “Okay, I’m just not jumping in after your,”
“I can’t touch. Thank you, God. Please help me. “Please help me,” Bickings pleads moments later.
Tempe Police Department is currently investigating the death of Bickings. This inquiry will also be reviewed and considered by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. A separate administrative review is being conducted by the Scottsdale Police Department to examine how the police responded.
Andrew Ching, City Manager, and Jeff Glover, Police Chief, called the drowning “tragedy.” Glover was reportedly seen with Bickings’ mom on Wednesday, according to police.
Authorities plan to release additional body camera footage this week from all three responding officers. They also stated that the footage would be edited due to its sensitive and graphic nature.
Tempe Police and officials state that they are also reviewing their water response protocols and what equipment officers may need. They are also looking at the placement of rescue equipment at water bodies.
