On September 14th, 2019 at approximately 5:05 pm, Kalamazoo Public Safety officers responded to Spring Valley Park at 2606 Mt. Olivet regarding a juvenile struggling to remain afloat in the lake. KCCA Dispatchers received multiple calls reporting the juvenile was calling for help and stating he could not breathe. When officers arrived on scene they observed the juvenile in the lake approximately 100 yards from shore and struggling to remain afloat. A bystander had entered the water in an effort to save the juvenile but was overcome with exhaustion upon reaching the juvenile and was unable to provide further aid.
Sgt. Deblecourt of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, a veteran police officer who is trained in water rescue, entered the water and swam out to the juvenile and bystander. Sgt. Deblecourt was able to support both subjects in the water until additional officers arrived to assist. Officers worked in concert to bring each of the subjects to shore and render medical aid.
Officers later learned that the juvenile had entered the water in an effort to rescue his dog who he believed had been in distress while swimming in the lake. The juvenile, bystander, and dog were all treated and released from the scene after a medical evaluation and consultation by emergency medical personnel.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at488-8911, Silent Observer at 343-2100 or report online at www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety would like to remind swimmers to exercise caution when swimming in large bodies of water, swim with a buddy, remain close to shore, and continuously evaluate your level of exhaustion while swimming in deep waters.
By authority of: Sgt. Bryan Martin
Date: Sunday, September 15, 2019
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Huber, Operations Division, 269-337-8120
