Sheriff: Stranded fishermen 'should have known better'-'idiots'--'can't arrest people for stupidity'

[underpants]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/07/Ohio.stuck.on.ice/index.html

(CNN) -- An Ohio sheriff had harsh words for ice fishermen who had to be rescued Saturday after high winds and rising temperatures caused an ice floe to break away and strand about 150 of them on Lake Erie.

"This just cost the taxpayers a ton of money," Ottawa County, Ohio, Sheriff Bob Bratton said. "We lost a life out there today. ... I'm sorry a man lost his life out there today. These people should have known better."

Bratton said those rescued should never have been on Lake Erie in the first place because weather conditions made it risky, and "if there was a section in the code about common sense, we would have had 150 arrests out there today."

"This was wrong. These people endangered the life of volunteer firemen, the United States Coast Guard," Bratton said, estimating the cost of the sheriff's office response at $25,000. "I'm sure that's going to climb."

Bratton told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the fishermen displayed poor judgment in building a makeshift bridge to get from one section of the ice to the other.

"I have no problem with people ice fishing, but these idiots should realize that when you see open water, you should not build a bridge and cross it," he said. "It's a shame you can't arrest people for stupidity."

[ddeclue]

1. It depends but I think sometimes the taxpayers deserve to get their money back if they have to

rescue you from your own stupidity.

Some things aren't foreseeable however and unfortunately we probably have to err on the side of the stupid to make sure that they get rescued and don't die and take others with them for fear of having to pay for their mistakes.

I remember hearing a story about a guy who bungee jumped off the Skyway over in Tampa and miscalculated the distance and smacked into the water hard breaking a bunch of bones and having to be rescued. I think that guy should have had to pay for his rescue.

I've read a few stories over the years about a private pilot or a boater flying or sailing drunk who've had accidents and I think they should have to pay back for their rescues.

I've read one or two stories about mountain climbers needing rescue who did what sounded incredibly dangerous like climbing some 15,000 ft peak in the dead of winter and then requiring the gov't to rescue them in a blizzard. I think if you do that you should be on your own and not put another person's life at risk to rescue you from your adrenaline addiction and if rescued should have to pay it back.

I've heard plenty of stories about snowmobilers operating in avalanche emminent areas after being warned and THEY too should have to pay for their rescue and shouldn't be allowed to put a rescuers life at risk to save their asses from a Darwin award.

Sometimes though a sunny day fishing trip turns into the proverbial "three hour tour" that no one could have foreseen and we shouldn't charge people for the unforseeable.

Doug D.

[underpants]

4. I find the Sheriff's words to be dehumanizing and in disregard of his duty

if it bothers him that much he can always quit. I am sure there are other people who would be glad to do his job.

[MercutioATC]

5. The fishermen were idiots. They KNOWINGLY went onto unsecured ice.

Hell, they built a bridge to it over open water.

The Sheriff is well within his rights to make this observation publicly.

[dbackjon]

8. The fishermen WERE idiots

And deserve to be publically called out on it.

[MUAD_DIB]

10. I disagree with your assessment.

There are plenty of idiots in the world.

What these fishermen did was stupid: ending in the death of one of their own.

[LisaL]

13. I think he is so refreshingly honest. I love it.

[ferrous wheel]

14. I'm not a sheriff...if I use those words will you find them dehumanizing?

Just checking here...

[ljm2002]

15. Normally I'd agree with you...

...but building a makeshift bridge to get across a crack that had already formed in the ice is major, major stupidity. If nothing else, someone has to say it publicly so others realize "Don't do that!"

[ferrous wheel]

16. Hell, it took those 'fishermen' 4 hours to break enough ice to launch the boat!

:rofl: :D

[ashling]

19. You apparently missed the point

He did what he could to rescue these reckless individuals.

[JanMichael]

20. You are way too nice to do that type of job

I hear what you are saying; but you should hear my wife's EMS stories-- seriously. You would not believe how stupid people can be-- and then need to be rescued from their own dumb assed-ness.

Should someone quit their job because they call a spade a spade? no. Humans can be unbelieveably dumb.

[Bolo Boffin]

2. Maybe this guy would be a good spokesman for Treasury right now

nt

[Stinky The Clown]

3. I was all set to get piossed at the sheriff. But he's right.

It seems as if the fishermen were fisheridiots.

[elocs]

6. Yes, you cannot protect people from their own stupidity when they knew better,

but the important thing is to catch fish and so it is ok to disregard ice conditions. This happens here in WI every year with people who are supposedly experienced in ice fishing who end up going through the ice. They even go so far as to disregard warning to stay off the ice.

By next weekend where I live we will have had a week of above freezing temps with highs in the 40s, but next weekend it will be colder and some idiot will go through the ice and somebody else will have to risk their life to save them. Evidently the answer to that is people die anyways, such is life. Such is a lack of common sense. Yes, shame on the sheriff for telling the truth.

[Myrina]

7. I totally agree with him.

How could they not have a clue that icebreakers come through occassionally? Did they just move to Ohio?
How could they not have a clue that ice weakens when temps get up over, oh ... 35 degrees?
How could they not have a clue that 'having to build a bridge' to get from one section of ice to another, further out wasn't a GOOD IDEA?


Darwin Awards, all around.

[Turbineguy]

9. If stupid were illegal

the jails would be filled with repubs!

[graywarrior]

11. Same thing happens in the White Mountains every goddamn summer and fall

[safeinOhio]

12. A few weeks ago I had to drive up I75

from Findlay Ohio to Ann Arbor Michigan. The roads were very slick and snow covered. Must have been over 40 cars off the road and in the ditch. Always a few hundred feet after an overpass. Now those were idiots. Driving way too fast for conditions. May be they were on their way to go ice fishing.

[tigereye]

18. maybe folks all need some re-training in thinking out consequences for

their actions...


but all in all, I'm glad more lives weren't lost.


And I agree about driving - i was taught to go slower when the roads are snow-covered and icy... :shrug:

[Skittles]

17. I love this guy Bratton

say it like it is, Bob :thumbsup: