Outstanding!! BZ!
Posted on 09/23/2015 12:39:56 PM PDT by BenLurkin
At the time, she was hanging onto the bridge’s ledge with one hand, dangling approximately 80 feet over asphalt, according to the release.
The child was described as “sobbing and desperate” by police.
Perez stopped his car on the bridge and walked calmly over to the area and began speaking to her, officials said in the release.
While talking with the girl, Perez learned she was from a group home in Los Angeles and had fled the facility “for severe emotional reasons, wanting to die,” the release stated.
...
The officer then asked the girl if he could approach and speak with her. After she gave him permission, he “developed a trusting communication” with the child and calmed her down, the release said.
As the two continued to speak, the girl agreed to let him come closer. Perez then asked her if he could help her back over the railing and back to safety.
...
“She was too scared to climb back over, so I leaned over the railing … had her grab my hand, and then I grabbed the rest of her wrist, and she pretty much bear hugged me so that I could pull her back over to the other side.”
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
Poor child...
I’m glad the cop was there and did such a good job. Maybe there isn’t a lot of hope for her future but hope is all we have.
She appears to be looking for help. hopefully she finds it.
Need to find out what was going on in that group home to bring her to that state. Most kids don’t exhibit that kind of angst until their Goth period, 16-17.
Perez, who has worked for the department for about year, said there were many thoughts going through his mind as she clung to the side of the bridge.
“I was scared, because the last thing I wanted her to do was to jump, and the last thing I wanted her to do was to try to jump for me, and me not being able to catch her,” he told KTLA. “But at the same time, my main concern was just getting her to safety.”
Yes, indeed. I've had experience with such kids in the foster or government care system, and I can make a guess at her background. Born to drug addicted, criminal or mentally ill mother. Certainly no father, or other family support-network around. Probably had infant health issues due to mother's behavior, such as fetal alcohol syndrome or similar. Possibly malnourishment as well, hence developmental delays.
Sexual abuse as a child also a possibility. At some point, the state became involved, and after numerous interventions, was taken to this "group home" - very much a last-resort. The child probably has better nutrition and health care, but only influences around will be other broken children. Adult figures will be social-worker bureaucrats, some of whom just passing time, some of whom hoping for the best, but all are part of the post-modern leftist state and ideology. There are no Father Edward Flanagan's in the California Social welfare system, so while the child's life might be better materially provided in this group home, there is absolutely no guidance, moral clarity or anything beyond rudimentary education provided.
In sum, the odds were greatly stacked against this kid from the beginning. No wonder she feels desperate.
Awesome cop..!!!
My brother was in group homes for several years. He had a housemate run out and kill himself after a staff member “dropped him a level” for a minor mistake. The boy lived in fear of dropping levels. One punishment was sitting with your elbows on the table for 30 minute periods. It can dehumanize the residents and lead them to hopelessness.
I could go on and on about the completed legal yet harsh conditions in group homes.
One punishment was sitting with your elbows on the table for 30 minute periods...I feel sorry for the guy. If he’d have learned, he maybe could have retired from the state government.
Great cop.
It may seem sort of trite, but I’m always telling cops and firefighters, “Thanks for your service”.
Cops and firefighters are vital.
This is the kind of man that should be invited to the White House, by a genuine president.
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