While more than 150 people were at City Park beach on Aug. 14, in its investigation of the drowning of Jamir Stewart, the Warwick Police Department did not find anyone who witnessed the six-year-old slip beneath the water. It was like he"
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While more than 150 people were at City Park beach on Aug. 14, in its investigation of the drowning of Jamir Stewart, the Warwick Police Department did not find anyone who witnessed the six-year-old slip beneath the water.
“It was like he kind of disappeared,” Col. Stephen McCartney said Thursday at a press briefing on the drowning at police headquarters. The chief said there were no cries for help or thrashing that would have indicated the boy was having difficulty attempting to swim. He said the absence of any thrashing or call for help fits an “instinctive drowning response.”
At the briefing – attended by City Solicitor Peter Ruggiero and Director of Public Works David Picozzi – Mayor Scott Avedisian, reading from a prepared statement, said in addition to the police investigation, the city conducted an administrative investigation that “uncovered certain programmatic issues that exist with the training and staffing of lifeguards at our beaches.”
He said that on Aug. 14, the city should have had three, not two, lifeguards at City Park beach and that both lifeguards should have been certified for “surf.” One was certified for surf while the other was certified as a pool lifeguard. He also said the investigation revealed that some of the city’s lifeguards were not wearing proper attire.
The mayor said as a result of the investigations, one supervisory employee resigned and another was terminated last week. He did not release the names of the individuals, saying that based on the threats and assaults against lifeguards on duty at the time of the drowning, “the city remains concerned for the personal privacy and safety of our workers, and will not release the names of any employees involved in the investigation.”
The mayor and McCartney described a highly emotional and charged scene at the beach.
According to the investigation, Jamir was accompanied by his aunt in about three and a half feet of water. Conditions were calm. There were no waves or tidal current. It was close to high tide. The aunt told Jamir to join his mother, who was on the beach, and turned her attention to another child who she was teaching to float. About three minutes later she couldn’t see Jamir and she contacted the lifeguards.
According to the mayor’s statement, the lifeguard conducted a “shore and water observation” with the aunt and then cleared the water, calling the supervisor and 911. A police officer was first on the scene.
According to the 133-page police report released Thursday, Jamir’s aunt told him to join his mother at 5:40 p.m. Three minutes later she reported him missing to the two lifeguards. They conducted a land search and then at 5:47 cleared the water, notifying police and fire two minutes later. The first police officer arrived at 5:55, and at 6 p.m. the supervisor of the lifeguards arrived. Rescue arrived at 6:03, and at 6:10 Angel Soares, who had arrived at the beach at 5:35, organized a human chain to walk through the water. Soares recruited Joseph DiPietro, who was also at the beach and had seen Jamir earlier in the afternoon.
In a statement he gave police, DiPietro said he arrived at the beach about 12:30 and was joined by his son and grandson. DiPietro said his grandson swam out to him and then Jamir joined them.
“I mean certainly don’t think if you stood still it would be, you know, above his head, but he came out paddling around with me,” reads the transcript of DiPietro’s interview with police.
He goes on to describe how Soares organized the human chain, and only after several steps in the area where Jamir was believed to have last been seen did he feel something with his feet and he and Soares found the boy. At that point, he said, a firefighter or policeman took Jamir and rushed him to shore, where they started CPR. He was then transported to Kent Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
McCartney said one of the lifeguards was assaulted at the beach, but because of the emotional circumstances chose not to press charges.
“There was a great deal of pandemonium that went on,” the chief said.
In his narrative of the scene, Officer Jason Cooke said there was a large crowd gathering near the lifeguards.
“I heard the crowd yelling aggressively at the lifeguards and appeared to be threatening to cause physical harm to them.” Cooke and Officer Shea escorted the lifeguards out of the area and eventually to headquarters.
Emotions continued to run high, threats were made, and McCartney said three officers were dispatched to the hospital “to ensure peace.”
While not in attendance at the press conference, Deirdre Isom, Jamir’s grandmother, and her son Lewis were outside headquarters Thursday and spoke with the news media. She was critical of the city and the mayor for being insensitive to the loss of Jamir. Asked if the family intended to bring suit against the city, she said, “This is not about retaliation, this is about justice for Jamir.”
“No one has done anything to help my family,” she said.
She also said that one of the lifeguards claimed to be a Marine and told those trying to find Jamir that “he had everything under control.” The police report says one of the lifeguards was in the Army and that the lifeguard said he never made such a statement. The lifeguard surmised people assumed he was in the military because of the Army bag he had with him.
The chief said Monday he had been in contact with a member of the family and had informed them of the press conference.
Pressed for the names of the two supervisory personnel no longer employed, Avedisian said that that is not subject to freedom of information requirements because it is a personnel matter and part of an ongoing police investigation. The issue of threats and personal safety were reiterated.
Looking forward, Avedisian said the city would work closely with the Red Cross and the Department of Environmental Management to examine current policies and procedures. Also, he said he has been in contact with Lara D’Antuono, executive director of the Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs, to help develop a program to expand swim lessons and safety resources for adolescents and are seeking funding through the Michael Phelps Foundation.
According to information on the Internet, instinctive drowning response is the number two cause of accidental death in children age 13 and under. Except in rare circumstances, reads reports, drowning people “are physiologically unable to call for help” and they instinctively press down with their arms and hands so as to get their head above water instead of waving.
A conclusion to the police report states that one lifeguard thought he knew what Jamir looked like and went looking for him, but it was the wrong boy. In addition, there were false sightings of Jamir, “which reinforced their belief that he had wandered off and was on land.” The conclusion further summarizes events and states, “I found no criminal intent or conduct in the death of [Jamir].”
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richardcorrente
I am outraged. The Mayor became complacent. He didn't do his job. The people he hired became complacent. They didn't do their job either. The result was tragic. To make matters much worse, instead of adding several more lifeguards, Avedisian decided to eliminate all lifeguards for the remainder of the season. I am outraged at this after-the-fact decision. It's cowardly, and leaves our beaches in much more danger than before the tragedy. (see the State Drowning Prevention Law). As Mayor, I would never let that happen. I called the State of Rhode Island Dept. of Parks and Recreations and spoke to its head, Mr. Bob Paquette, and John Faltus, also with that Dept. I learned that Rhode Island has 800 certified life guards. We could have gotten several new lifeguards to take the place of the two that Avedisian removed. I am creating a plan to make our beaches safe and attractive to visitors. Look for it in the Warwick Beacon and if you want to offer input toward the plan, please contact me at www.correntemayorwarwick.com or call me with your ideas at 401-338-9900. When 2017 arrives, we will be ready, and our beaches will be safe.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 Report this
Warwick Man
Seven more weeks... Then we won't have to hear from Dick Corrente anymore.... Do us a favor go away sooner. You comment on everything just to comment.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 Report this
Scal1024
Rick, you throw the word "outraged" around quite a bit. I wonder if you would be so "outraged" if this didn't happen on a city beach. To make matters worse you quickly pivot this into an attack on the mayor. That says ALOT about your character and how you think...not in a good way.
This was a tragedy, and you shouldn't look to politicize everything as you so often do. If a parent takes a child to the beach, do they hold no accountability for the child's safety? I believe parents should be aware of where their child is at all times. There were 2 adults with these children that day, that should not be overlooked to just dump on the lifeguards, the city or the mayor. Doing so (as you have) in such a careless, petty, disgusting and self serving manor is beneath the office of mayor, and just shows voters how low you are willing to go.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Hello Warwick Man:
Thank you for joining the many readers who are tired of seeing this candidate's repeated attempts to use every comment board on this site to promote his campaign. As you see from his prior comment, he barely acknowledges the terrible tragedy that this family must endure [using a total of four words] amidst a blatantly political attack on the current mayor.
Please join me and the thousands of voters in Warwick who will reject this candidate on Nov. 8.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Hello Warwick Man:
Thank you for joining the many readers who are tired of seeing this candidate's repeated attempts to use every comment board on this site to promote his campaign. As you see from his prior comment, he barely acknowledges the terrible tragedy that this family must endure [using a total of four words] amidst a blatantly political attack on the current mayor.
Please join me and the thousands of voters in Warwick who will reject this candidate on Nov. 8.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 Report this
Kammy
It is indeed a mystery as to how this child drowned. It is a tragedy for the family and the city. I wasn't there but it isn't hard to imagine the chaotic scene. Could it have been handled better? Yes. Can they put procedures in place to correct the problem? Yes. Will the city get sued? Yes. We can't change what happened, we can only change how we move forward.
Mr. Corrente, that you took this story and made it about you and your candidacy makes my stomach turn.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 Report this
JohnStark
Richard,
You're way, way off on this one. This was a tragedy, pure and simple, and no one's fault. The lifeguards that were on duty will be haunted by this for the rest of their lives, to say nothing of a permanently shattered family. Yes, policies and procedures need to be examined. That does not mean that anyone acted "cowardly". There remain unanswered questions, such as the depth of the water relative to the boy's swimming ability, and adult supervision issues. But using this as an opportunity for political posturing makes you look small. Come on, I'd like to think you're better than that.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear John Stark,
There are two issues here. the first was the tragic drowning and I agree with everything you said. I was a lifeguard for two years and I never tried to get my salt water certification because something as tragic as this can happen so easily as it did last month.
However, I tried to make my comments solely on the way the Mayor handled it. He said he ended the lifeguards for the remainder of the season. I (and I'll bet you) would never have done that. I (and I'll bet you) would have increased the number of lifeguards to five or six to show our residents and visitors that we care about their safety. Avedisian did not do that. It's the way he handled this tragedy that makes me outraged.
Do you think Avedisian made our beaches more safe or less safe?
What would you have done?
Richard Corrente
Dear Kammy,
I agree with everything you said as well.
Just remember, we can't change what happened. What I am trying to do is change that we do in the future. Your words.
Richard Corrente
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 Report this
Scal1024
Rick, when you are in a hole, stop digging. This is NOT a campaign issue. No one is going to think you're a better person for claiming to have a plan. To continue this pathetic attempt at scoring political points is really sad. I think John Stark said it best when he said "this is a tragedy and no ones fault".
Why do you insist on making everything political? Your recent comments are not fitting of a mayor, and in 2 months the voters of Warwick will let you know that loud and clear. You could have just apologized and moved on but you actually can't see any wrong in what you said. It shows how you treat people who disagree with you, and your condescending responses to people further proves that point. Enough is enough! You were in the wrong, let it go!
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
As a human being:
I am sickened that Mr. Corrente has chosen to use this story as fodder for his political campaign. He should be ashamed. His constant commenting on every story is as transparent as it is annoying. Count me as one Warwick voter who will not be voting him.
Now as a parent:
I cannot imagine the anguish at a loss so great. My heart truly weeps for the family.
As a citizen:
It is true that the city could have had more lifeguards on duty, and they all should have been surf certified. Logic tells me there is a difference between a pool and coastal waters. It also seems apparent that the situation could have been handled better from the beginning.
But, not every tragedy is someone's fault. Bad things do happen for no good reason and sometimes they are simply unavoidable. Some in our society expect to live in a world of zero risk and when the unfortunate reality of this flawed belief exposes itself some like to count themselves as victims.
There is no "justice" to be had in this case, and when the inevitable law suit comes down, the city will settle and the tax payers will foot the bill for this horrible, horrible tragedy that is not the city's fault. This happens because we live in a society devoid of personal responsibility with a victim mentality. We like to delude ourselves into thinking the world can be or even should be free of risk and when it inevitably fails to live up to the unrealistic expectation, our solution isn't to be introspective, but rather to sue somebody. It is a sad time we live in.
Thursday, September 22, 2016 Report this
Biggameatball
Corrente - STOP already. Spend your money campaigning rather than spending your time reading the Beacon and using it as your personal advertisement. You are turning off more voters than you are rallying. Another failed campaign! Stop being a RICHARD!
Thursday, September 22, 2016 Report this
wwkvoter
how terrible for this family, I am so sorry for the loss of jamir, a boy just playing at the beach on a sunny summer day.
as to this comment from above: "Mr. Corrente, that you took this story and made it about you and your candidacy makes my stomach turn."
+1
Thursday, September 22, 2016 Report this