All this Police talk!

Makes me want to share a story:

I saw my brother this morning (he called me Friday morning pretty upset b/c a 21 year old girl was killed by a drunk driver). Well, this morning he went into more detail...

He was the first one the scene, tried to get her out and couldn't b/c she was pinned. He had to wait for the Fire Dept to get there with the Jaws of Life... About an hour or so later they got her out. She was unconcious the whole time and they (EMTs) finally began to "work on her".

He followed the Ambulance to the Hospital because he wanted to see the outcome... He had a feeling that she was not going to make it... He said that there is a look that people who are going to die get on their faces... A look he can't describe.

He said she had this look but he followed anyway (he also needed to notify the family). He got there, they continued to work and all of a sudden my brother said it was like all the color and life just drained out of her body. They pronounced her and he went to go tell her parents.

I said "how do you even say that to people? where do you begin to tell them that their daughter is dead?" He said, I don't know-you just DO. So he told me that he said something to the affect of: We tried our hardest, she was unconscious so I don't think that she suffered much that I could see, she wasn't aware or awake to experience the pain, the EMT's and Doctors worked for a long time but she just didn't make it, her injuries were too much and she didn't pull through, I'm very, very sorry we were not able to do more, I wish there was more we could have done but we did everything and it wasn't enough to save her"

He told me that her parents basically collapsed (which is, he said, what usually happens) and that her Father grabbed him and hugged him (meaning, hugged my Brother) and that he just cried and said that his daughter was his princess and his whole life. They asked to see her and picked her up and hugged her... They went out and then asked to see her again before they had to go home.

I said, and you hugged him? He said, yeah- I had to, he needed that. My brother told me this happens a lot but no matter how many times you experience it or how many years you are on the job NOTHING prepares you for it and you NEVER get "used" to it.

I know he deals with a lot of $hit and abuse but these situations, according to him, are the worst of all.

THAT is why I don't think I could ever be a Police Officer. He had me sobbing just from the story...

Just thought I would share b/c the story, although so sad and tragic, touched me.

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Your brother sounds like an awesome person!

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Policemen, firemen and our soliders have the hardest job. Just like teachers, while people may pick on them or make fun of them they are always grateful that they are there!!!

On Wed we are were in a store like a bodega. We got our items. My daughter was with me. I told her tell the clerk to have a good day and she did. I said and say thank you to the policeman (who had come in for coffee). She did and I think he was a little shocked that I would tell her that.

On back to school night in my school there was a father dress in his NYFD uniform. Before I even started my presentation, I just walked up to him extended my hand and said 'thank you'!

for your brother

Message edited 2/24/2007 3:57:00 PM.

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Posted by Phyl

Your brother sounds like an awesome person!

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so sad..I'm crying too. Thank you for sharing that.

Thanks (to your brother)

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Posted by Jamie

Policemen, firemen and our soliders have the hardest job. Just like teachers, while people may pick on them or make fun of them they are always grateful that they are there!!!

On Wed we are were in a store like a bodega. We got our items. My daughter was with me. I told her tell the clerk to have a good day and she did. I said and say thank you to the policeman (who had come in for coffee). She did and I think he was a little shocked that I would tell her that.

On back to school night in my school there was a father dress in his NYFD uniform. Before I even started my presentation, I just walked up to him extended my hand and said 'thank you'!

for your brother

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many hugs to your brother!

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Many, many to your brother and for those who work in similar occupations who have to deal with the unimaginable.

My cousin was an EMT in the city for 6 years (worked out of Bellevue) and almost every call he went on was horrendous... he delivered crack addicted premies, had to get dead homeless men and women out of the subway tunnels, horrendous gun shot victims, etc. So many of the stories he says he can't even talk about. After 6 years he wound up leaving and now flies a medi-copter in WI. He just couldn't take it anymore. His wife was the head emergency room night nurse at Bellevue and says the same

I'm glad your brother told you about the incident so he can get some of what he witnessed out of his system.

My mom was killed in a tragic accident as well. I often think of those who were the first to find her and tried to save her life.

for all involved.

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That's a sad story. I couldn't imagine telling a parent that their child is dead.

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Posted by Phyl

Your brother sounds like an awesome person!

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it is very troubling, and something for someone with a strong stomach.... I use to handle auto claims and it was always difficult dealing with the fatalities, thats why i had to switch out.

My dh still handles auto claims and some of the ones he comes accross are so sad....

every time something bad happens to us(like my m/c last week) he reminds me how it could be worse...
He just got a claim in of a family in a car accident, the two young children died on the spot, the wife died in the hospital, and the husband was in critical.....

its sooo sad to hear stories like that.

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That's awful. It makes you realize there is a lot more to the job of being a police officer than meets the eye.

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Thank You for sharing your story! I agree Police Officers, firefighters, soldiers all have the toughest jobs out there! Thank your brother too.

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Posted by MrsKelly

Posted by Jamie

On Wed we are were in a store like a bodega. We got our items. My daughter was with me. I told her tell the clerk to have a good day and she did. I said and say thank you to the policeman (who had come in for coffee). She did and I think he was a little shocked that I would tell her that.

i'm not sure what area you were in, but it can be shocking to hear anything grateful, or even polite - out of anyone's mouths towards us.
i grew up in suffolk county and am just accustomed to life out here... when i started working with nypd, my personality naturally carried over - and i'd smile and be friendly to people. i cannot tell you how it felt to automatically just get the nastiest looks or comments in return. it absolutely breaks my heart when a little kid smiles or waves at us and says hi, and their parents pull them away and tell them not to talk to us. it's amazing how some people can treat us like we are the criminals... because of what we do... yet when they need us, they call us, no problem.
anyway, to your brother - i know exactly how he felt at that moment.

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i know this is an old story----but i figured i'd bump this cause i know that Dani would love to think of all the great things her bro has done as a cop...and seeing this story again will probably lift her spirits knowing that others are reading about what a great cop he is!!

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Bring him home.

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for her brother

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