They wouldn't touch him till they got the gloves. There's nothing you can do to stop them. He said a dangerous situation is created for police when someone is clearly intent on killing himself, and is uncooperative. I expect cops to risk their lives - but not unnecessarily. The Pier 34 collapse later in May, for example, spilled dozens of people into the Delaware River.
Cops unhesitatingly dove in for rescues.
It's one point on which Cupples agrees with officials. But if they're working by water, they should have the training. After Beaufort was in the water, police say they threw a rope and a life preserver at him. His rescuers said the current had taken Beaufort at least 100 feet away. In Philadelphia, this is generally performed by the police Marine Unit.