Comments on: Mom locks kid in car, sues firemen and police

By: Luis

Luis — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 13:58:42 +0000

It really seems this could have been solved with zero problems if someone had just called AAA to come and slim-jim the car.

Alternately, if more expensively, one officer could have been told off to watch the boy, breaking the glass if necessary, and another ferried the mom to get the keys. No fuss, no muss, problem solved.

Unfortunately, policy seems to have superseded personal judgement here. Which it frequently does. I would be very tempted to sue, too, if the same thing had happened to me. (But if I were in the mom’s shoes, I would have asked that the window be broken — I prefer expeditious problem-solving.)

Anyone who thinks CPS involvement is necessary in this case would appear to be even more socialist than I am, which is saying something. Accidentally locking your kid in your car is not a reason to involve the State in someone’s life. Good God.

By: abayrat

abayrat — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 10:52:30 +0000

I was a volunteer fire fighter in NY with 29 years experience including 8 years as a line officer. If I were called to the scene I would have ordered the window broken immediately. My job would have been to save life first and property second. As for the glass excuse there are 4 windows available to break, and breaking one away from the child would be a no brainer. I am not sure how it works in Conn. But in NY when the FD is called to the scene the FD is in charge (except in NYC), the incident commander is responsible and essentially owns the property until the emergency is over.

By: Duqlaw98

Duqlaw98 — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 10:15:32 +0000

Ms. Silverstein should consider herself lucky that she is only facing criminal charges. Law enforcement personnel could have (and it appears should have) reported her to child protective services for abuse/neglect or even taken the child into protective custody and “handed” the child over to CPS for juvenile court proceedings. Instead of suing the very people who saved her child from her own stupidity, she should be thankful that she still has custody of the child at all.