If you would ask many police officers, why did you decide to become an officer a lot would say they want to serve, to help people. There were some things that really bothered me, more than other things on the job. Those three main things were if someone abused or hurt a child first. Second, if someone abused or hurt an animal especially dogs and cats. Third, if someone would abuse or hurt a senior citizen. Those three things would really set me off more than other items that we dealt with on patrol. I looked at all of them being helpless and it was part of my job to keep them safe from harm. Life is hard enough without people trying to take advantage of you. Now what does this have to do with what I am writing about today? Nothing really but it was just something on my mind.
Most of you know I usually write about criminal justice related issues whenever I author an article. What I am writing about today is related to this issue and it has really been bothering me for the last several days. I think many of you have heard about the lady they found dead in the snow at 76th and Congress at the bus stop. Video shows she was waiting for the bus and slipped hitting her head on a steel fence. She went down to the ground and attempted to call 911 for help. Now this was the day we had the exceptionally large snow fall so you do know it was bad outside trying to walk or drive. So, this lady is down on the ground trying to get help. Video shows people walking and driving in the area. This is an extremely business intersection. The video shows at least one person stepping over her and continuing to walk along. Its hard to say if that was a man or woman.
A lady comes along, seeing her down and calls 911 for help. Paramedics come to help but she dies at the scene. The lady who finally stopped and calls for help is interviewed by the media. She says something like I really feel bad and like I want to cry. How could people not stop and help this lady? I called for help, but it was too late. People should not be treated like this.
MFD (the Milwaukee Fire Department) did an investigation on the 911 call. They said Curtis Ambulance was dispatched when the lady first called and checked the area but did not see her down on the ground because of the high snow and being behind a trash can. They drove through the intersection a few times but never got out to check for her. The President of Curtis said they did nothing wrong, and they do not usually get out to check for people. When the other lady called 911 the paramedic unit came but it was too late.
I agree with the one witness people should not be treated like this. Milwaukee we can and should do better for our fellow citizens. To you Mr. President of Curtis Ambulance your people in the future should get out and look for people. This lady, who is a mother and grandmother, could still be alive today?
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