For Immediate Release:  May 20, 2021  (Video Attached)

The Atlantic City Police Department wishes to remind all beachgoers that it is unsafe to swim when lifeguards from the Atlantic City Beach Patrol are not on duty.  Dangerous rip currents can be powerful and can affect even the most experienced swimmer.  First responders and good Samaritans have rescued several children from the ocean this week. 

On May 15, 2021 at 5:00 pm, Tourism District Unit officers responded to the Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard beach for reports of several young juveniles in the ocean in distress.  As officers arrived, all of the children had been rescued from the water.  A good Samaritan, Dijon Brooks, entered the ocean and rescued a four-year-old female.  The girl was transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division, for evaluation.  The other children were evaluated on scene.  Two other men also entered the ocean to rescue the children but were not identified.

On May 18 at 11:30 am, Tourism District Unit officers responded to the Virginia Avenue beach for a report of three juveniles in the water.  A good Samaritan, Stephen Moore, of Clark Summit, PA, went in the water to assist the three siblings, two girls, 11 and 9, and one boy, 8, of Philadelphia, PA.  Officers Ramir Hayes and Brian Victoria-Garcia arrived to Moore calling for help.  He and the children were stuck on an outfall pipe as the waves continued to crash in.  Officers Hayes and Victoria-Garcia immediately rushed in the water to assist.  The officers could see that the children and Moore had been injured from the pipe. 

Officer Victoria-Garcia stayed on the pipe to assist Moore while Officer Hayes grabbed the 11-year-old and put her in on his back carrying her to the shore.  Officer Hayes returned for the 9-year-old and carried her to safety. 

Chief Steve Downey of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol, Lifeguard Brian Cain, and Firefighter BJ Hamilton of the Atlantic City Fire Department were off-duty doing maintenance work at a nearby Lifeguard stand when they responded to the beach.  They, along with Officer Scott Crawford, assisted in rescuing the 8-year-old boy and Moore from the pipe.

The three children, three officers, and Moore were all transported to the Medical Center to be evaluated for cuts and lacerations sustained from the waves crashing into them while on the pipe.   

The Atlantic City Beach Patrol will begin patrolling beaches on Saturday, May 29 between the hours of 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.  As a reminder, if you cannot see the lifeguard, the lifeguard cannot see you. 

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Alert sent on 05/20/2021 at 1:15PM EDT

Additional Information

Link: Water Rescue Video

To submit a tip via text message text ACPD and your tip to 847411

Alert delivered to the following groups: Atlantic City PD, Business Alerts, Press Releases, Westside Civic Association, Westside Homeowners Protective Association, Tanger Outlet, Chelsea Neighborhood Civic Association, Venice Park Civic Association, Marina District, Stanley Homes Village, First Ward Civic Association, Carver Hall, Chelsea Heights, Bungalow Park Civic Association, The Cove Condo Association, CRDA, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Security Directors , City Adminstration, Communications, and Atlantic City Boardwalk Committee

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