JEM3110

A Chicago mother is facing a possible jail sentence for child endangerment after leaving her 2 year old daughter asleep in the car. Just before Christmas, she drove to her local Walmart to donate a bag of coins to the Salvation Army with her 3 daughters. She parked the car outside the store in the loading zone, the 2 yr old was fast asleep so ahe decided to leave her in the car not to disturb her (buckled up, car locked). She then walked with her 2 older daughters, a few yards to the front of the store where the bell ringers were. On her return she was met by the community service officer and consequently arrested.

So, what do think, bad mommy, deserves to go to jail or complete and utter over-reaction by police department?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/mom_on_trial

Roland Hulme

Crikey. When I was growing up, my parents would stick me in the back of the Volvo with a rusk and there I'd sit all day, while they went shopping or something. Didn't do me any harm.

Total overreaction by the police.

Manc

what exactly is a community service officer? and why is he arresting people?

JEM3110

Dunno if he actually did the arrest... I guess he called for back up?

zargof

Now that is debatable....

JEM3110

The thing is, I know so many mothers who do this on a daily basis, when it's pick up time down at my son's school. If the kid is fast asleep, the weather is appalling and you're only going to be gone for a couple of minutes -what's the problem?

bevinva

Here a community service officer has limited powers, basically goes around giving parking tickets, older moody bastards. Totally jumped the gun.

scrubbedexpat097

After reading that I am wondering if maybe the mothers reaction to the community officer is what caused the arrest. Sometimes people react in a negative and defensive way, especially if their parenting skills are being questioned. She may have only got a slap on the wrist and a warning but if she became abusive or argumentive to the officer it might have caused the arrest. Just my thoughts.......

Hiro11

Update today: someone finally came to their senses and threw out all of the charges.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...,3750707.story

Unbelievable story. It's even worse once you study the details: it was sleeting and the kid was asleep, she shut the car off and put the hazards on, she was about 20 feet away for less than 5 minutes etc, etc. She did everything in a completely responsible manner.

In response, the idiot handcuffed her and threw her in the back of a police car in front of her kids.

This "community safety officer" should be fired, as should everyone else who allowed this to drag on for four months. Shameful.

paddingtongreen

Oy, quit the stereotyping, we're not all moody, no respect, you bloody kids are all the same.

Hiro11

Here's another winner of an "officer" (this guy at least got suspended):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GgWrV8TcUc

I love his little car.

ugacrew

You should become a Wal-Mart greater when you grow up. You'd be fabu at the job I think.

paddingtongreen

What's your interest?

paddingtongreen

But he ain't old!

bevinva

Wasn't sure if you or Ray would get there first!