Police: Long Beach officers rescue swimmer from ocean
Long Beach Officers Noel Hench, left and Nick Rooney, third from left, rescued a distressed swimmer from the waters just east of the jetty at Long Beach Boulevard after receiving a radio call about 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The two are former lifeguards, police said. Credit: Jim Staubitser
Two Long Beach police officers who were local lifeguards before joining the force rescued a swimmer in distress Saturday morning, police said.
Near the end of their shift, Officers Noel Hench and Nick Rooney got a radio call about 6 a.m. that someone on the beach had reported that a man was in the water just east of the jetty at Long Beach Boulevard, according to Lt. Eric Cregeen of the Long Beach Police Department.
"One man was in distress and another man, a Good Samaritan, had gone in the water to try to save him," Cregeen said. "Both officers are former Long Beach lifeguards, and they went in the water."
The 911 call came in at 6:02 a.m. and everybody was out of the water by 6:07 a.m., he said.
The swimmer in distress was treated on the beach for cuts and abrasions caused by hitting the rocks, Cregeen said.
Swimming is permitted only when lifeguards are on duty, which is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the city's website.
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