Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Pinal deputies rescue girl, 2, left in car for 90 minutes (http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/2011/08/24/20110824Pinal-toddler-car-abrk.html)

As you can see, these deputies punched out the glass on the passenger side window in order to rescue the child. This is a rather inexpensive fix considering there were other options (they didn't even miss a few times on the door). Recommend training should be to punch out windows with embedded antennas or heaters like the windshield or rear window. Also, consider punching out windows like the fixed glass window on the side for ventilation and then punching out another window to actually complete the rescue. Another option if available is to punch through the sunroof. Those are pricey. The preferred option however is the application of a Halligan bar or similar instrument to actually pry the door away from the frame in such a way that door replacement is necessary before the parents can neglect other children. If done correctly, the glass will also break during this procedure. Sometimes a deputy might try to open the door closest to the child as the closest access point but then change to the opposite side to avoid injury from glass. This is incorrect. The preferred method is not to actually switch sides, but try to open both doors simultaneously using different deputies. Once the deputy nearest the child recognizes the danger of broken glass, he can switch to a lower point on the door with Halligan. Sometimes, in an emergency, one deputy can rescue the child while others try to render the vehicle safe for future children.

Bottom line is that if the car/truck is legally driveable after the driver leaves a kid in the car when it's 115 degrees outside, the deputies need remedial training in extraction techniques. Otherwise more children could be in danger.

Good job on the rescue though. That call must feel a lot better than it could have been in about 15 minutes more.

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/eastvalleytribune.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/00/700eae3e-cef2-11e0-a143-001cc4c03286/4e5604b3d424c.image.jpg



Pinal County sheriff's deputies said they broke into a locked vehicle to rescue a 2-year-old girl after she had been left in the hot vehicle for up to 90 minutes Wednesday.

Deputies were called to the parking lot of Fry's at 155 W. Combs Road in San Tan Valley at approximately 4:45 p.m. after a shopper saw the toddler in the vehicle.

Authorities said the child was found crying, with flush-red coloring and heavy sweating. The child was taken to Banner Ironwood hospital.

The child's mother estimated she had been in the store for 20 to 30 minutes, a Sheriff's Office statement said.

The mother also said she was unaware that the child was left in the vehicle. She claims that the father loaded the child back into the vehicle.

An investigation is ongoing. Pinal County sheriff's spokesman Elias Johnson said the child is alive but he could not provide her condition.

I would have broken the same window, I would have just preferred to break it using the mother's face.

I would have broken the same window, I would have just preferred to break it using the mother's face.

LMAO. I was listening to a local talk radio station on my way to work this morning and they were talking about this incident and the one later that same night where a guy we were chasing rammed a city police vehicle and his vehicle burst into flames....killing the suspect. (No cops were hurt.)

Driver dies after fiery crash into Mesa police cars during pursuit (http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/2011/08/25/20110825mesa-police-pursuit-fatal-crash-brk.html)

Anyway, the hosts suggested that the fact that the mother was not treated and released from a hospital was proof that excessive force by police has been reduced to the non-existent level.

LMAO. I was listening to a local talk radio station on my way to work this morning and they were talking about this incident and the one later that same night where a guy we were chasing rammed a city police vehicle and his vehicle burst into flames....killing the suspect. (No cops were hurt.)



The funny part about the chase was that the city that lost two cars wasn't participating in the chase according to reports. They were clearing intersections and assisting but apparently it was outside their pursuit policy. Then the suspect tried to kill a couple of those officers that weren't pursuing by intentionally crashing into them. I hope they tried their best to pull him out of that burning car. Glad to see no injuries. Hopefully nothing as severe as a single blister on their hand or burnt hairs on their arms or even feel like they sweated a little extra being that close.

That particular city has some financial issues. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that risk management discussion. "So we didn't pursue? We acted to save lives and property within the city by giving the suspect green lights? And then two of our stationary vehicles were destroyed and involved in a fatal accident involving this person? And the two pursuing agencies lost no cars, no injuries and no fatal accidents? And another city chased him into our city and then left the chase? Is that about it?" That guy is going to be looking for somebody to send the bill and lawsuit to. lol.

This is why we don't use roadblocks. Every once in while someone will decide to just go out in a burst of glory by aiming right at you.

About three years ago, we got into an extended pursuit that took us up I-10 into Chandler. Chandler did the same thing Mesa did. They would not get engaged in the pursuit, even to toss out stop sticks. They just blocked intersections in front of the pursuit. This pursuit ended when an air unit got on them and they knew they were not going to get away.

As you can see, these deputies punched out the glass on the passenger side window in order to rescue the child.

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/eastvalleytribune.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/00/700eae3e-cef2-11e0-a143-001cc4c03286/4e5604b3d424c.image.jpg

Call me crazy, but that sure looks like the DRIVERS side to me?????

Otherwise, I agree with the theory of better to go overboard so that said vehicle is not worth to torment another child during said rescue. Although the best would be what RDS said below the OP!!

Call me crazy, but that sure looks like the DRIVERS side to me?????

Otherwise, I agree with the theory of better to go overboard so that said vehicle is not worth to torment another child during said rescue. Although the best would be what RDS said below the OP!!
Touche. Rear, drivers' side, passenger door. My bad. I'm not up on all that fancy technical police jargon. :)

@ RET. I agree one time I had to play rescue at my rental property the mother locked the keys and her six month old son in the house in the middle of summer with no ac on . So thankfully there was a glass pane by the lock I had to break it and reach MY arm in there to unlock it as the mother was "too scared" of getting cut !! 75$ to replace the glass