Parks Commish Refuses To Dunk Lifeguards

Despite the ongoing attack on lifeguards, the parks commissioner is standing by his boys in red. After a city pool's lifeguard was arrested for dunking a teenager who accused the lifeguard of trying to drown him, Commissioner Adrian Benepe is saying that he does not think there is any systematic problem with his lifeguards, telling the Post, "Any time you have a large group of workers, you are going to have some problems." Benepe stressed that there's two sides to the dunking story and said, "If someone is resisting, it may appear something that it's not." The teenagers at Highbridge Pool in Washington Heights though must smell blood in the water because they're coming to the Post and claiming that the dunking was not an isolated incident. One 15-year-old told the paper of a similar altercation that occurred in the 10 Feet section of the water two weeks ago, saying, "It was three lifeguards. They took turns dunking the kid without letting him come up for air."

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By Billy Parker in News on August 13, 2009 2:18 PM

Comments [rss]

shadybrady312

the city is seriously considering firing a lifeguard for wearing headphones on a rainy cloudy day at 10:08 in the morning but take no disiplinary action towards a physical altercation with history i dont think either should get in trouble but give me some consistancy benepe stick up for your lifeguards dont hang the headphones out to dry

HOTCUP

i believe NYC Parks lifeguards wear orange, not red.

NannyState

I know people are getting impatient but we're just not that far along with robotics.

hotstepper

i would have read the story but i was too entranced by the awesomeness of The Hasselhoff.

Tpooh2

Don't Hassel the Hoff!

JenChungsBaby

Great, so the kids can get the lifeguards fired and then guess what? POOL CLOSED! Go play in a fire hydrant!

grizzzly

Benepe has a point; the lifeguards are a giant bunch of hastily hired summer employees. Of course a couple are going to act up, but I don't know what "systematic issues" with city lifeguarding that can indicate, as long as the ones that act up are removed promptly.