Police searching Ridgefield lake for missing boater

Why is the News Times calling the man a "boater"? Where is the boat?

Wondering wrote:

Why is the News Times calling the man a "boater"? Where is the boat?

Do you need a picture of the boat in the paper to prove he was a boater? I'm sure the NT is going by what the witnesses are reporting to them. Why is wiether he is a boater or not relivent? It is traggic wiether he was a boater or not (if he did die)
Prayers to the family of this person.

after watching the entire search and rescue process, as a homeowner on the lake, i am very upset with the way the ridgefield police handled their search and rescue mission. I watched divers from every town around work hard to try and recover the victim and possibly try and save him. The Ridgefield police department were too busy petting my neighbors dog on the lawn and talking on their cellphones and taking pictures from their cellphones to lend a helping hand in trying to help this situation. I cannot believe that this town needs such a trajedy like this to happen to be able to open our eyes and realize there are more important saftey precautions that we need to worrk about and not just focus on young kids speeding and smoking a little bit of pot. I feel for the family of the victim and i want them to know i will continue to pray on their behalf.

What wrote:

<quoted text>
Do you need a picture of the boat in the paper to prove he was a boater? I'm sure the NT is going by what the witnesses are reporting to them. Why is wiether he is a boater or not relivent? It is traggic wiether he was a boater or not (if he did die)
Prayers to the family of this person.

I agree that it is tragic and was just wondering why the News Times didn't mention what type of boat it was, if in fact there was a boat. According to the article on the Ridgefield Press website, I see that it was kayak. It seems like all they are going to find now is a body, if anything since he was last seen at about 1:00 this afternoon.
Just awful...

upset wrote:

after watching the entire search and rescue process, as a homeowner on the lake, i am very upset with the way the ridgefield police handled their search and rescue mission. I watched divers from every town around work hard to try and recover the victim and possibly try and save him. The Ridgefield police department were too busy petting my neighbors dog on the lawn and talking on their cellphones and taking pictures from their cellphones to lend a helping hand in trying to help this situation. I cannot believe that this town needs such a trajedy like this to happen to be able to open our eyes and realize there are more important saftey precautions that we need to worrk about and not just focus on young kids speeding and smoking a little bit of pot. I feel for the family of the victim and i want them to know i will continue to pray on their behalf.

In most cases, if a dive team has to be called in to "search" for someone ... it is a recovery effort, not a rescue. Ridgefield does not have a dive team ... what do you expect them to do, jump in the pond with their gun belts on??

upset wrote:

after watching the entire search and rescue process, as a homeowner on the lake, i am very upset with the way the ridgefield police handled their search and rescue mission. I watched divers from every town around work hard to try and recover the victim and possibly try and save him. The Ridgefield police department were too busy petting my neighbors dog on the lawn and talking on their cellphones and taking pictures from their cellphones to lend a helping hand in trying to help this situation. I cannot believe that this town needs such a trajedy like this to happen to be able to open our eyes and realize there are more important saftey precautions that we need to worrk about and not just focus on young kids speeding and smoking a little bit of pot. I feel for the family of the victim and i want them to know i will continue to pray on their behalf.

You should have called New Milford. They were very professional and found the missing person rather quickly. A lot of folks talk junk about New Milford police but I think they are some of the best in the area. Your comment just proves my point.

Ever hear of a life vest?

FYI wrote:

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In most cases, if a dive team has to be called in to "search" for someone ... it is a recovery effort, not a rescue. Ridgefield does not have a dive team ... what do you expect them to do, jump in the pond with their gun belts on??

Well put. RPD was there for traffic and crowd control.

FYI wrote:

<quoted text>
In most cases, if a dive team has to be called in to "search" for someone ... it is a recovery effort, not a rescue. Ridgefield does not have a dive team ... what do you expect them to do, jump in the pond with their gun belts on??

Why not, they are bottom feeders anyway.

First of all, I pray for whomever this tragic accident has happened. But secondly, why are this people not wearing life vests . This if the second or third drowning or accident in one week. Something is not right here. Do people have to have a license to go boating and don't they know about life jackets? This is just so sad.

Personal flotation devices are mandatory to have with you but not mandatory to wear this time of the year. They are mandatory for the guys that compete in Bass Tournaments to have on when the gas motor is being used.

The recovery teams need to get some of the new 3d sidimaging depth finders it can see to both sides of the recovery boat and would help in finding the submerged person. the top of the line unit is around $3,000.

they can be set to see 150 feet in both directions. if you can see a fish you should have no problem seeing a body

Now is not the time to make commentary about the ridgefield police. They are not bottom-feeders. What an awful and unnecessary thing to say.

Suzie wrote:

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Well put. RPD was there for traffic and crowd control.

did you witness that?

Big Lee wrote:

they can be set to see 150 feet in both directions. if you can see a fish you should have no problem seeing a body

You'd be surprised, a body is surprisingly difficult to locate underwater with a "fish-finder" as they usually sink to the bottom and appear to be part of the floor on the screen. Fish above the bottom, so they are more easily identified.

Capitol_Punishment wrote:

Ever hear of a life vest?

When I am really desparate I take my Alden ocean shell here and try to break a sweat without crashing into the shore. My experience is that the state officers are VERY METICULOUS about making sure that everyone who goes out onto the water not only has a vest but also wears it. Only a weird kayaker could possibly down in this shallow pond.

Many Rescue groups are turning to the new Sidefinder depth finders because of the detail. You can literly see items on the bottom such as trees rocks and cars.

the link shows a crocodile under the water. that is the closest I could find to a human.
http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/...

The update says they are now using a depth finder to try and locate the body, it may be a sideimaging

upset wrote:

after watching the entire search and rescue process, as a homeowner on the lake, i am very upset with the way the ridgefield police handled their search and rescue mission. I watched divers from every town around work hard to try and recover the victim and possibly try and save him. The Ridgefield police department were too busy petting my neighbors dog on the lawn and talking on their cellphones and taking pictures from their cellphones to lend a helping hand in trying to help this situation. I cannot believe that this town needs such a trajedy like this to happen to be able to open our eyes and realize there are more important saftey precautions that we need to worrk about and not just focus on young kids speeding and smoking a little bit of pot. I feel for the family of the victim and i want them to know i will continue to pray on their behalf.

Another Ridgefield resident probably upset because they were arrested by RPD. Get a clue Ridgefield does not have a dive team either in the police dept. or fire dept. if they did they would be diving for the body.

Wondering wrote:

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I agree that it is tragic and was just wondering why the News Times didn't mention what type of boat it was, if in fact there was a boat. According to the article on the Ridgefield Press website, I see that it was kayak. It seems like all they are going to find now is a body, if anything since he was last seen at about 1:00 this afternoon.
Just awful...

they say it was a Kayak

This is a tragic event to hear about. However, it once again shows the horrible job of the Ridgefield Police Dept. This is one of the worst Police forces I have ever encountered in my entire life. They are unprofessional not only towards kid, but also adults. The way these policemen do their job is horrible and they need help from other area departments b/c they are beyond bad and this only emphasizes that. I'm sorry to hear about this, but it shows how poor the police in ridgefield really are.