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I know first hand how that can happen. My dog hit the lock button on my car door while I was pumping gas. I had left the keys inside. The police came right away without fanfare. It's routine for police to unlock car doors here, even if there isn't an animal or human inside. I learned to make sure Now I don't step out of the car for the briefest minute without my keys are in hand or a least making sure a window is opened wide enough to reach my arm through.
The story is a little confusing. It sounds like the dispatcher said that police could be sent but they wouldn't break into the car unless there was obvious distress (in which case the window would be smashed). The mother was also the one who hung up the phone. If that is the case, the dispatcher definitely could have handled the situation better by trying to calm down the mother, getting a location, and flat out asking "do you want me to send an officer?" I don't think it is fire-worthy though.
Based upon my past knowledge police cars are assigned certain districts of a city and would be available re any emergency calls even when in the middle of a traffic ticket stop.
Years back a slim Jim was a quick tool to unlock a door....not sure about these new cars now days.
Any baby/child accidently or otherwise locked inside a car has Priority over other misc calls or violations being handled at that time......Police officer or nearby Fire Dept would have handled the situation.
The story is a little confusing. It sounds like the dispatcher said that police could be sent but they wouldn't break into the car unless there was obvious distress (in which case the window would be smashed). The mother was also the one who hung up the phone. If that is the case, the dispatcher definitely could have handled the situation better by trying to calm down the mother, getting a location, and flat out asking "do you want me to send an officer?" I don't think it is fire-worthy though.
There's nothing confusing about it. She initially asked if someone could come out and open the door. He should have sent someone. He didn't need to ask her again if she wanted an officer since she asked for one when she called.
Plus, the police department says it's not true that they won't open a car door unless the child is in distress. That would be an insane protocol because it would put children at risk of brain damage and they most certainly will be in eventual distress one way or another if the door isn't opened.
He should be fired for simply being an idiot who doesn't understand the imminent risks of children locked in hot cars. The bystander who broke her window with a wrench should have his job.
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