Why not get the police winch trained. Central counties had to rescue flood victims by landing on rooves! Can't remember the year but know the pilot and Sergeant who did it. Surely a winch would have been safer.
...and a winch would have been provided quickly and free of charge, on a Sea King/S-61, had it been asked for. From what you say, this is yet another case of the control room sending the wrong asset, or not knowing what assets are available to him/her, or thinking that there would be a bill for using SAR.