Tomas Lopez, fired Florida lifeguard, presented with key to the city

Tomas Lopez was fired from his job as a lifeguard at Hallandale Beach after he left his designated zone to aid a swimmer in unguarded waters / Tomas Lopez

(CBS News) Hallandale Beach, Fla., city officials have honored the lifeguard who was fired after leaving his watch zone to rescue a swimmer in unguarded waters.

CBS Miami reported that city officials presented Tomas Lopez and several other lifeguards who assisted in the rescue with a key to the city on Monday.

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"It's a big honor. I don't believe I deserve the key to the city," Lopez said. "All guards would have done the same thing. I think all of us deserve this. All I did was do what I was suppose to do."

In a story that generated national attention, Lopez, 21, ran to the aid of a man drowning outside his assigned watch area. By the time Lopez reached the scene, around 1,500 feet away, the victim had been pulled out of the water, but Lopez stayed with him until an ambulance arrived.

Lopez was later fired by his supervisors at Jeff Ellis Management, a private company the city has paid about $334,000 a year for lifeguards since 2003, for abandoning his post. He was told that according to policy, he should have called 911.

Two other lifeguards were also fired that day and others resigned in protest.

A few days after the incident Jeff Ellis Management offered Lopez and the other two lifeguards their jobs back, explaining that the supervisors had acted "hastily" and hadn't realized that other lifeguards were watching Lopez's zone as he ran off. All of the lifeguards declined the offer.

Hallandale Beach is the only city in South Florida to outsource lifeguards from a private company, according to CBS Miami. Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper said officials were worried the city did not have enough certified lifeguards to protect all the beaches and pools.

Money also seemingly played a role. The city reportedly saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by using the private company to hire lifeguards.

But, Cooper says what made sense then, might not make sense for anymore. She's asked the city manager to look into the contract and explore options for hiring their own lifeguards.

[roaringmaus]

Wow, just love all the comments about "greedy capitalist" and outsourcing jobs. I was under the impression that the lifeguard in the story was a local so how can this be an "outsourcing"? I think most of you should turn off the computer, leave your parents basement and get a real life, and probably a job. Don't tell me there aren't any out there, I've seen the plant that my husband works at hire people who then don't show up for work, guess they had more important things to do, like complain about us "greedy capitalist" that do get up and go to work.

[Chrisseh]

I was an Ellis guard for many years. Jeff Ellis and Assoc is a GREAT company! They are worth MORE than what they are paid and the Lifeguards are at extremely high standards. It is obvious when reading the article that the city was at fault for firing employees that were doing what they are trained to do. Jeff Ellis and Assoc offered them their jobs back, I support individuals decision not to return, I also commend Ellis for noting the accomplishments of Mr. Lopez and associates. Thank you for carrying on the high standard of care that Ellis puts forth!

[Kauaiguy]

$334,000 is a lot of money for a business to lose. Pull the contract from Jeff Ellis Management Co because it's obvious that they're not concerned about Public Safety.

Too risky to stray outside our territory to save a human being? What if everybody did the same?

[emmabettyesther]

A key to the city is a great publicity stunt but these wrongly fired young people need jobs - why hasn't the city of Hallendale Beach offered Mr. Lopez and his colleagues jobs?

Obviously the city can afford to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to the out of touch company, Jeff Ellis & Associates, that wrongly fired these heroes.

If you are outraged about this, contact the mayor Joy Cooper, the city manager Renee Crichton, and the company Jeff Ellis & Associates and voice your displeasure and demand action including providing good jobs to these young heroes and immediate cancellation of the contract with this out of touch company.

[venusvegasvada]

You get what you pay for. Cheap company that dumps on their employees.

Do the right thing and put it back under the city and put those young people back to work at a decent wage.

[KnowerseekerReturns]

Capitalism is your friend... not.

That said, I think it's funny that Thomas Lopez looks like a Hispanic Justin Bieber.

[JustSayIt]

I find it funny that you still type "not" as your attempt to be cynically hip. Wow, Hispanic Justin Bieber. Your comment just drips originality.

[hemusbull]

Forget the city as an employer, forget the private company that kick him off...This young individual helped to save a human life and i really, really appreciate his citizen's common sense!

[donretired]

Sounds something like what Rummy would do, outsource.

[KnowerseekerReturns]

If everyone were outsourced, with their jobs hanging from a thread, Romney would say "Mission Accomplished".

[one4gipper]

Wow, did the city outsource those jobs? The lifeguards should again become government employees, covered by SEIU and paid three times more than what the market would pay.

[donretired]

You must not ever have worked for the City as they do not pay enough. Maybe you think so or not. Now the politicians may make what you think but that again is a different story.

[KnowerseekerReturns]

If Superman existed, "the market" (greedy capitalists) wouldn't pay him more than one penny an hour to do what he does (if he wasn't already a superhero for free).