Sean Bickings drowned after police officers responding to a disturbance call did not enter the water to reach him, officials say.
"That check had not yet been completed when Bickings decided to slowly climb over a 4-foot metal fence and enter the water," the statement said.
"Attempting such a high-risk rescue could easily result in the death of the person in the water and the officer, who could be pulled down by a struggling adult. Officers are trained to call the Fire Department and or get the Tempe Police boat. That is what officers did here," the statement said. The three officers who initially responded to the call have been placed on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave pending the investigation, according to the city.
The city released partial body camera footage of the incident from one officer, as well as what it says is a transcript of all conversations from the footage that was not released. The remaining footage from the body cameras of all three officers will be released later this week, the city said, adding it"will be edited due to its graphic, sensitive nature."
The nearly 12-minute video, which also shows what happened between the couple and Tempe police officers, ends before he starts calling for help.