Child called me this evening. I asked her to tell me exactly what the deputy said to her when she asked him for help. He said, "No. I don't have any." He then rolled up his window and took off.
I had told her at the time that the sheriff department's new building was just a mile down the road. I checked the time, and said it was probably shift change and he wanted to get back. We agreed that wasn't right anyway.
Child has a friend who is also a deputy at the same sheriff department. She explained the incident to him, and he said no, they don't carry cables but they do carry something else to charge batteries. The friend told her the deputy should have stopped to help. He asked her what time it happened, and he said it was probably the deputy's shift end.
Like I said to child, the deputy did not know if perhaps child was stranded from out of state (he didn't see the vehicle she was in), had been beat up last night, and had 3 babies in the car. It could have been the case, but luckily was not. I hope next time whoever he ignores is not in that situation either.
I hope he went home and considered how he would feel if it had been his wife or daughter seeking help.
I can't say that child will turn again to an officer if she has a problem. That is why I felt like I had watched a bad accident happen.
10 comments:
Even if he couldn't help directly with getting her battery charged, wouldn't you think he would not leave until he had at least tried to get in touch with someone who could help? I am still appalled at his lack of compassion for her situation...Jae
just awful! isn't there a place to complain at the sheriffs office?
Deb
How about if she just takes responsibility for her own destiny and doesn't expect someone to come riding out of the night to save her? Maybe the guy had an appointment to watch his kid at a performance or hadn't slept for a couple days?
It's always OUR fault that a woman doesn't know how to change a tire or deal with a dead battery.
Tsk.
I am a female and can change my own oil, but I do not carry jumper cables in my car.....most people don't, males included! I am really sad that the deputy could not take the time to help her.....isn't that thier duty to help? Even if he was at the end of his shift it would have taken all of five minutes to help her out! I don't think asking for someone to help is not taking responsibility for her own destiny. I hardly ever post and 2 in one day...I must be on a roll!
Rebecca
Oh Remo - child can jump a battery. She is like me - she had already asked at the gas station, walked over to the nearby drug store - neither had any cables to borrow or sell. She asked everyone who drove into the station for gas if they had cables. She was trying to save me a trip to the store for cables, and knowing that officers here are to help stranded people, she asked very poitely if he could help. He wasn't polite back. She has been taught to respect adults, and is always a bit confused when she doesn't get treated with civility in return. All she needed to hear was, "Sorry. Can't," in a reasonable tone. She won't make a formal complaint of any kind. Not her style. She was not raised to be a helpless female, trust me on that one! "Resourceful" is our middle name :)
xoxo
I raised my kids to go a police officer under any circumstances where they needed help because that's the way I was raised. An officer is supposed to be a "safe, helpful place" at all times -- at least that's what I've always thought. Guess I've been wrong in my way of thinking.
I suppose we are all human and make judgement calls, for instance not carrying jumper cables, running out gas, etc. But people in authority choose their jobs, positions and with that comes responsiblity to the public. For instance, I would never think of not picking a kid up who missed his/her bus for any reason, even if it was after my shift & I was late for a personal event. That's just how it goes. Rose~
I have a small kit in my van that I think was about fifteen dollars--it came with jumper cables and a few other little doohickies, like tire pressure gauges and other things. We used it the other night when some guys had their car die in the Krogers parking lot.
They were cute, too. :-)
Once again, That sucks and is a bad deal...
Thats what we are all sworn into do when we take jobs like that is to serve and protect...What was that deputy doing? Shift change or not, he is wrong.
hugs,
Kathi
I agree with you. It's unbelievable that he just said no and drove off. An officer should have done whatever he could to assess the situation and help a stranded citizen. It's too bad you can't report this rude behaviour to someone of authority.
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