Your photographer should have been on the 108th Street beach last Saturday (“Washed Up! iPod Guard Whistled,” Aug. 4).
That day, dozens of lifeguards worked tirelessly to locate a drowning victim that turned out to be a false alarm. The people on the beach gave them a heartfelt ovation.
To photograph a lifeguard at 10 a.m. on a rainy Sunday morning, when no one was at the beach, is a cheap shot.
Kevin Spillane
Rockaway Park
***
I am a lifelong Rockawayite.
All along the boardwalk there are huge green signs warning about the potential dangers posed by erratic ocean currents. Yet, the warnings are always ignored until tragedy strikes.
Daniel O’Neill, who was a poor swimmer, simply had no business being on a relatively deserted beach with no lifeguard supervision. This tragedy could easily have been avoided had this kid used a little common sense.
There are no lifeguards at the 25th Street beach because that beach is reserved for fishing.
Sharon Rutman
Far Rockaway
***
I was an ocean life- guard on Long Island in the 1960s and ’70s.
A lifeguard caught listening to a radio on duty would’ve been fired on the spot. You kept your eyes on the water, rain or shine, full beach or empty beach.
One time I was docked a day’s pay because the head guard didn’t like my haircut.
We were disciplined back then.
Ed Micca
Bayport
***
I live in the Rockaways, right where that picture was taken.
That day, it was pouring, there was lightning, thunder and nobody on the beach.
On Monday, the lifeguards had to carry out four rescues.
They saved the lives of children whose mothers were standing right there (our life- guards are basically treated like nannies).
Before accusing the lifeguards, get the real story.
Luc Lamothe
Rockaway
***
Clearly Mayor Bloomberg spends little time at the beach.
If he’d look a little closer at the picture, he would see that the lifeguard is wearing raingear.
The lifeguard should be disciplined, but not fired.
Making a scapegoat out of him for political points is reprehensible.
Roger Adelmann
Houston
***
On Saturday, the day that O’Neill drowned, I was present at Rockaway Beach.
I witnessed two miraculous rescues by the very same lifeguard currently being criticized by the media and Bloomberg.
In one rescue, a 19-year-old woman was pulled from the very rough waters.
Six lifeguards (none of whom was listening to mobile audio devices) dashed fearlessly into a set of gut-wrenching swells to save her.
It was truly one of the most awe-inspiring acts of courage in modern times.
O’Neill’s drowning was a sad event, but a staff of brave employees who risk their lives on a daily basis should not be publicly ridiculed because of one photograph.
Alex Breen
Manhattan
***
A picture tells a thousand words. However, it does not provide necessary background information.
When the photograph was taken, the weather was horrible, and there was probably no one in the water.
Since being a NYC lifeguard is considered a city job, this kid may be ineligible to pursue a career as a firefighter, police office or sanitation worker, all noble civil-servant jobs.
Discipline him, but don’t let him be a scapegoat because another kid from The Bronx can’t swim well.
Brendan Roberts
Brielle, NJ
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Though I agree that lifeguards should not wear headphones, their vision is overwhelmingly more necessary to do their jobs than their ears.
I’m sure that the lifeguard in question had no one on his beach at the time this photo was taken.
Mark Spadara
Rockaway