Lady in labor asks cop for help - gets ticketed instead

[Carol]

Un-frikkin-believable!

A Massachusetts lady started having contractions 3 minutes apart, and was in the car with her husband rushing to the hospital.

Hubby makes the 25 mile drive from their home to Cambridge (where their hospital is located) and hits a wall of traffic. He skips out in to the breakdown lane to skip ahead of the traffic, and then stops to ask a Massachusetts statie if they can take the breakdown lane to the next exit.

The trooper's response? NO!! And...the couple was going to be ticketed...AND...the couple had to WAIT until the trooper finished with the ticket that he was in the process of writing up!!

The trooper looked in the car, and when he saw the pregnant lady, he asked "What's under the jacket?

Her response... "My BELLY!"

The trooper didn't believe her and wanted to SEE her pregnant belly.

Fortunately, the story had a happy end...the couple made it to the hospital in time, and the couple now has a happy and healthy baby girl.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/12/couple_rushing.html?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed5

 

[terryl965]

That is amazing

 

[Andy Moynihan]

Unfortunately the MSP are not, as an agency, known for their humanity or incorruption.


Just the same--Hope they got this *******'s badge number and name because he *NEEDS* to lose his job.

 

[morph4me]

A State Police spokesman said the trooper was not expected to be disciplined because he was making a judgment call in enforcing the law that prohibits driving in the breakdown lanes. The lanes are only open to traffic on some highways during rush hour.

I think they might want to address his poor judgement

 

[grydth]

Yet another case of, "Giving Birth in an Improper Lane in the 3d Degree.".

Once upon a time, police would've sped her to the hospital in their cruiser with lights and sirens. I still think this individual doesn't represent the huge majority of LEO's, though.

 

[punisher73]

Yet another case of, "Giving Birth in an Improper Lane in the 3d Degree.".

Once upon a time, police would've sped her to the hospital in their cruiser with lights and sirens. I still think this individual doesn't represent the huge majority of LEO's, though.

No, not for the average police officer. I think the term "exigent circumstances" pop into mind when I read this.

The problem is some agencies (like State Police in many cases that I have dealt with) really try to foster that robot mentality and some officers only see things in right/wrong. If it is wrong, there are no exceptions...because if I make an exception for you, I have to make an exception for everyone and what would be the point of the law?

To bad stories like this happen and tarnish LEO's image.

 

[MJS]

As its already been said, I wouldn't lump all LEOs into the same group as this one in question. And yes, given the situation, one would think that he would've escorted them to the hospital or better yet, taken them in his own car.

 

[Drac]

No, not for the average police officer. I think the term "exigent circumstances" pop into mind when I read this.

The problem is some agencies (like State Police in many cases that I have dealt with) really try to foster that robot mentality and some officers only see things in right/wrong. If it is wrong, there are no exceptions...because if I make an exception for you, I have to make an exception for everyone and what would be the point of the law?

To bad stories like this happen and tarnish LEO's image.

Amen...The "Statees" up here are just as bad....Triple A ( American Automobile Association) withe a badge and gun...

 

[Carol]

After living in Massachusetts for 20 years and having run across more than a couple staties...I wasn't speeding I sw...oh never mind I'm out of their jurisdiction I don't think this was typical of the Mass. State Police, nor the average LEO.

The area where they were stopped (Alewife Square) is a damn tough area to be a LEO. Its the line of demarcation between the urban and the suburban. Its the end of the subway line so thousands of commuters park in the area to take the subway in to town. Its also the entrance to many of the Boston's river roads so thousands more commuters drive through the area to get someplace else in the city. The area itself is home to high rise housing projects and some of the highest crime rates in the city (of Cambridge). The roadway on which they were stopped leads to some of the most prestigious suburbs in the Boston area, including Lexington and Concord. A mix of socio-economic classes, a mix of ethnic groups, pedestrians, bicyclists, subway riders, bus riders, and 10 lanes of Boston drivers all in one place. I avoid the area like the plague...

 

[Big Don]

If it were really an emergency, they shouldn't have been driving twenty-five miles to the hospital...

 

[MA-Caver]

Bad cop... no donuts, no bagel, no fricken pay for a week.
Shameful and yes agreed not atypical of police officers across the board. This couple just happened to have the misfortune of running into the dumbest of the bunch of the dumb cops that are out there, ... ok if not dumb then unfeeling and uncaring.

Glad mom and baby girl are alright.

 

[Carol]

Bad cop... no donuts, no bagel, no fricken pay for a week.
Shameful and yes agreed not atypical of police officers across the board. This couple just happened to have the misfortune of running into the dumbest of the bunch of the dumb cops that are out there, ... ok if not dumb then unfeeling and uncaring.

Glad mom and baby girl are alright.

Ironic that this happened in the city that is home to MIT and Harvard....

 

[jks9199]

No, not for the average police officer. I think the term "exigent circumstances" pop into mind when I read this.

The problem is some agencies (like State Police in many cases that I have dealt with) really try to foster that robot mentality and some officers only see things in right/wrong. If it is wrong, there are no exceptions...because if I make an exception for you, I have to make an exception for everyone and what would be the point of the law?

To bad stories like this happen and tarnish LEO's image.

Yep; crappy judgement on the trooper's part. I DO understand looking for some sort of confirmation -- and I wouldn't have either led or driven them to the hospital. In my area, EMS will get there faster than I can get mom to the hospital, and part of our training is how to deliver a baby. (Of course, it's kind of like the episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where Worf delivers a baby... "How many babies have you delivered?" "300... in simulation." ) In a like situation, I'd call rescue. If I feel a ticket's absolutely necessary (some egregious situation or they nearly killed themselves or me, I guess)... I'll take a birth certificate or similar document from the hospital as evidence to ask for dismissal!

 

[Drac]

Bad cop... no donuts, no bagel, no fricken pay for a week.
Shameful and yes agreed not atypical of police officers across the board. This couple just happened to have the misfortune of running into the dumbest of the bunch of the dumb cops that are out there, ... ok if not dumb then unfeeling and uncaring.

Glad mom and baby girl are alright.

This Trooper better hope that the parents don't run to the media with this story...He and his whole department will suffer...

 

[Carol]

If it were really an emergency, they shouldn't have been driving twenty-five miles to the hospital...

The article didn't specify how urgent the situation was when they first left their Dracut home, it only specified the situation when they asked for help.

Although, considering the closest hospital to them has a history of giving babies to the wrong mothers to nurse , I can't blame them for trying to get to Cambridge...

 

[Carol]

This Trooper better hope that the parents don't run to the media with this story...He and his whole department will suffer...

Um...Drac...turn on CNN...

The MSP has stated that the trooper will not go through a formal investigation unless the couple files an official complaint. The couple says they will not file a formal complaint against the trooper, they think the media attention they have received is enough of a complaint.

I suspect they are right.

 

[MA-Caver]

This Trooper better hope that the parents don't run to the media with this story...He and his whole department will suffer...

Oops too late! :lol:

http://people.boston.com/articles/cityandregion/?p=articlecomments&activityId=5003076336765502363
This is from a group of commentaries on the story...

not all policeman are created equal.. we hear many times that they are criticized for doing their job when having to make instant life & death decisions.. I work with many law enforcement officers (LEO) most are excellent representative of the authority and responsibility that is attached to the shield which does include common sense judgments and then be able to justify it if questioned. Trooper Michael Galluccio just doesn't get the complete picture of his job. I have seen it before, this will someday come back to bite him in his derriere....

Sooner than he wanted to too.

Another quote that argues the other side... but a bit heatedly...

Ok hear we go. Let's beat the trooper up real bad. First of all, do their jobs! Being a retired Cop, they hear all the excuses in the world and some of them are unreal. Hey T.Guinas look in the mirror i am sure your a top notch individual who makes right decisions daily you fool. How about the people themselves, don't you think common sense was lacking on their part, what if the baby came out breech,what if the mother stopped breathing, how do you do CPR driving, how do you get help in a hurry if necessary. How about someone rear ending them in the break down which happens to troopers almost daily by drunks and just plain idiots who shouldn't drive. I don't see anyone talking about the family and their lack of common sense.

While, I would have to agree that the dad was taking a risk in doing what he did...and a lot of accidents do occur ironically in the breakdown... but since when has a typical father ever been rational during the moments that his wife is giving birth or at least is in labor? It's also probably the only fastest route to the hospital from their home? Better than running 30 red-lights and stop signs.
The trooper could've given them the escort and then afterwards talked to dad about being a bit more safe and etc. etc. etc.

 

[Carol]

While, I would have to agree that the dad was taking a risk in doing what he did...and a lot of accidents do occur ironically in the breakdown...

They do indeed. However, Massachusetts does legally allow breakdown lane travel on some sections of Boston area highways during rush hours. So...what the dad was requesting really wasn't out-of-scope with the area.

 

[GBlues]

Personally I believe in right and wrong, and not much of has any gray area for me. LEO's like this guy, have there priorities confused. There job is to protect and serve. In this situation he should have jumped in his car,
flipped the lights on and said follow me. That's it. That's the right thing to do. He doesn't know how much of an emergency this is, he knows that she's pregnant. That's it. You get her to a freaking hospital, cause if it was his wife, or girlfriend, or if it had been his mother. He'd of gave them no grief and got them to the hospital. Period, how funny. Right and wrong, it's wrong to give a pregnant mother trying to get to the hospital to deliver her baby a ticket Period! It's right to do what you can to help her in this situation. It comes down to the 'and serve' part.:erg:

 

[Drac]

Personally I believe in right and wrong, and not much of has any gray area for me. LEO's like this guy, have there priorities confused. There job is to protect and serve. In this situation he should have jumped in his car,
flipped the lights on and said follow me. That's it. That's the right thing to do. He doesn't know how much of an emergency this is, he knows that she's pregnant. That's it. You get her to a freaking hospital, cause if it was his wife, or girlfriend, or if it had been his mother. He'd of gave them no grief and got them to the hospital. Period, how funny. Right and wrong, it's wrong to give a pregnant mother trying to get to the hospital to deliver her baby a ticket Period! It's right to do what you can to help her in this situation. It comes down to the 'and serve' part.:erg:

While you heart is in the right place that is NOT the right thing to do..Running " hot" puts EVERYONE at risk...In my experience most motorists do not give a police cruiser running hot the right of way..I would have made sure they are off the road on the shoulder OR parked my cruiser behind the car and CALLED A SQUAD...If I have to deliver a baby before the squad arrives, SO BE IT....