Was it really child endangerment in Illinois parking lot?

I was heartily sickened when I read this story. If the police officer (who sounds like she had a personal issue with the mom's actions) really thought there was a problem, a warning would've sufficed, especially considering the mother was only a few feet away. To those who have posted about your ability to exist permanently within 5 feet of your children, my hats off to you. Like many other parents, I have elected to leave my children in the car in order to drop off movies or library books, while keeping the car in view. Sadly, this is no longer good enough. More and more, it feels like the government is trying to legislate child raising out of existance. Am I the only parent who fears an overzealous, underthinking government employee destroying my family because they disagree with how I'm raising my children? I love my daughters dearly but it sucks feeling like I'm living in a parental minefield where one "mistake" can cost everything based on some authorities petty whims.
So the mother is to be punished for her "mistake"? Yes, I used quotes on purpose. Many of the comments agree that the police officer was out of line. Is the only response to her actions going to be "She's authority, suck it up". That to me is the truly tragic portion of this story. There needs to be some kind of oversight for situations like these and there just ISN'T. A badge isn't a symbol of infallibility, cops are human and prone to mistakes like the rest of us. But in this story, I've seen nothing to contradict the impression that law enforcement in Chicago, like many other civic offices, operates as if it's exempt from the consequences of moronic decisions while "little people" are wrecked by them with no choice but to suffer through. I'll acknowledge there are situations where *I* want to smack a parent for leaving a child in a car for several minutes while they've disappeared inside the store. I agree with other comments that the mother did NOTHING wrong.

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I have a friend who left four of her children in her car while she shopped for twenty minutes. The police were called and let her off with a warning. I was so upset with her and asked her "Would you leave a 100 dollar bill on the seat of the car even if it was locked?" I am a single mom of two boy's and have never left them in the car not even once. Not even to pay for gas. It can develop into a habbit. My friend is now facing two counts of felony manslaughter for leaving her two babies in the tub while she shopped online for shoes. Her 11mo. baby Cecelia drown. It is tragic and complicated, however she did have a pattern on neglect that went on and on, and nobody would listen to us when we tried to get help for the sake of preventing any harm to the children. Although this woman seems great and wonderful, she should embrase this and maybe become an advocate to others just as smart and nice as she is. Bad things can happen to smart and good people. It only takes a second. My friend by no means is smart or good, but really needed help before and still. Google the story. Katherine Bodem and read for yourself. Thanks for letting me rant. It helps me deal with what has happened. The trial starts May 19th.

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Google Katherine Bodem. She left her four children in the car and the police only gave her a warning. Her neglect turned into a habbit and now she is going on trial for two counts of felony manslaughter. Would you leave a 100 dollar bill locked in your car on the seat? This woman should embrase the opportunity and get educated as to what dangers children can be in in just ONE moment. She then can become an advocate for some of the really stupid parents out their who do really stupid things thinking it won't happen to them. It does seem to be a bit overkill but like I said, maybe the good Lord is trying to guide her and use her to help the people who don't even think twice and should. Cecelia Bodem R.I.P. baby angel.
Rachel

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This is outrageous. How could it be less child endangerment to leave an infant inside a warm car in plain sight of her parent than to leave two girls under age 10 in a public parking lot unattended for hours? Our society has lost all sanity. Granted, leaving an infant in a car for hours is one thing, but this is ridiculous..

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Mom always knows best and maybe cops, social workers and other busybodies should just mind their own business. Good Lord, it's actions like this cop that drives me further into the arms of people like Neal Boortz or even worse, Sean Hannitty....

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Verine, You are preaching to the choir. My husband, while not about to deploy to Iraq, is working evening and night shift as a police officer, pretty much 7 days a week so I can stay home, so he is never available to help with errands. My youngest has special needs, as well, so doing anything with him is not a walk in the park. Yet, I still manage to not leave my children in the car alone. If I have to, I park at the far end of the lot in order to park directly next to the cart corral.

Yes, it's tempting to leave them in the car while I drop off a package or pay ballet tuition, but the risks far outweigh the convenience, in my mind.

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I am a father of seven children. It is critical that we properly care for and protect our little ones at all times, to the best of our ability.
I am a retired police officer and know that it is important to protect children from abuse.

The prosecutor doesn't want me on the jury in the Treffly Coyne case because, if the information in the news and on the Web is accurate, then I would find the police officer guilty of abuse. As for Coyne? Guilty of improper parking - probably. Guilty of child abuse - not likely. In fact we need more contientious mothers like her.

William Shakespear said it first & well "Man, proud man, when cloaked in a little brief authority, will perform such feats before heaven as to make the angles weep." D&C 121 tells us: "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men that as soon as they get a little authority they will immediately exercise unrighteous control and compulsion upon the souls of men."

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I guess I feel like we don't have all of the facts in this case. For example, if the car was so close to where she was dropping off the money to the Salvation Army, why did she feel it was necessary to go with the older girls? Why not just stay in the car and let them go drop it off? Did she not feel it was safe for them to do so? Were there a lot of people and traffic and commotion? That changes things a bit. Regardless, I don't think it was a crime, but I am inclined to believe that there is another side to the story.

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Justice prevails! WTG Ms. Coyne!

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Elaine, EEK! I thought when you said you made a quick stop, you meant you stopped at a convenience store for milk and bread. You were in an actual store that required a shopping cart and multiple bags? Yet you were able to keep your eyes on your children the entire time? O-kay.

Regarding your circ comments: If you re-read your original comment, what you said was any parent who had their male child circed should be charged with child endangerment.

I actually happen to agree with you that it is abusive to do so without anesthesia. However, I am quite happy, not only with my decision to have my son's penis circed, but also with the procedure that was performed with a local before he came home from his long stint in NICU.

I live in Atlanta, dear, so I know all about REAL crimes, as does my husband, the police officer. Big city or small town, there is no excuse for leaving your vulnerable children to fend for themselves. Oh, and just because the cop did not see your children alone in the car does not mean he cannot charge you with endangerment. As long as the person who did witness it is willing to go to court and testify, that is all the evidence they need. But, you obviously know that from your police officer friend, or you wouldn't have accepted the plea deal.

Also, just because we did things that were unsafe, by all means, lets let the kids play with rusty nails! Woo-Hoo! Tetanus shots with dinner for everybody. I mean, really. There are plenty of ways for children to have fun without being potentially fatal!

I am a little curious about something, though. What made you decide to take your one year old, but leave your 4 and 6 year olds in the car by themselves? I'm sure the one year old was exhausted from the day spent at the botanical gardens.

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Michelle, I think you need to let this rest. We "get" that you would have made a different decision. That doesn't mean that Treffly Coyne, or any parent who would do the same in those circumstances, is wrong.

All of us WISH that we could control everything to guarantee that our kids will remain healthy and happy forever, but we can't. That means that we need to figure out where the line is between reasonable caution and unreasonable paranoia, and it's not likely that we'll all see the line in the same place. But being unduly judgmental of other thoughtful parents does not help matters.

Also, I have met police officers and social workers who are out to save the world (why else take those jobs?) and who let their personal "I'm saving the world" convictions overtake their common sense. I can understand why it happens, but it's still wrong. A police officer on a crusade can damage children and families just as much as a neglectful parent.

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I think this whole thing is just horrible. I mean come on we as parents are not allowed to be parents anymore. We are not even allowed to disipline our children anymore. Yet the people in stores and what not whisper everytime a child throws a fit or wants somthing. What are we suppose to do anymore. I wish they would just give us a set list of what we are allowed to do and what we can not do. That would at least help us as parents out. When I was a child (not that long ago). We never locked our doors, left keys in our cars, were allowed to walk to the park to play all day unattended. We actually were allowed to be children and to have a good childhood. Now you can not even let your children play outside in their yard with out you being right there. No wonder kids are lazy and play video games. It is safe inside so why not stay there. Come on people we need to do our children a favor and let them be kids. My parents use to leave us in the car all of the time. It never hurt any of us. I can understand now not leaving them in a car where you can't see them but when you are right there what is the problem. I have left my two kids strapped into the car seats and ran in the house several times. Or to run into a gas station. I have always parked in front of a window so they are in plain view at all times but they have never been in any harms way. People need to lighten up and let parents be parents. Pretty soon we will have to take college courses before you have children to be able to have a child!!!!!

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I think that some people need to understand that as parents we do all we can to protect our children,reguardless if the officer knew all the facts he/she is obligated to find the out before acting rashly. While I do my best to never leave my 2and 5 year old alone in the car sometimes it is briefly neccisary ie in the drive way when you need to run in quikly. While it is not the best idea it is not equal to fedral tax evasion Ethel, and if you belive it is I don't think you have been in the situation. The idea that this police officer left three children alone at a Wal-Mart where they could have been injured or worse kidnapped by someone was much more in the nature of child endangerment than a LOCKED car that was with in the mother's sight at all times. It is not about following the law it is about being human and having some level of compassion for others.

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"Pretty soon we will have to take college courses before you have children to be able to have a child!!!!!"

What an outstanding idea! I'll be happy to lend out my textbooks.

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Michelle,
I'm not going to argue with you. Facts are, the prosecutor told me it was ridiculous, said if he dismissed it, then he would have to for anyone. The Magistrate in the town who I spoke with told me it was a complete lack of common sense on the cop's part AND judicial system. She told me that I would most likely get it dismissed eventually (like this mom). I didn't think I would survive another week wondering what would happen. I hadn't slept in weeks, hardly eaten a thing, I couldn't be a good mom in this state. That's the only reason I accepted. I'm sure you feel it would be better for a mom to be dead than be there to raise her kids if she, shock! Left 2 kids in a car for a few minutes.
I got a cart to put the baby in. I was buying carrots for juicing as I'd just been diagnosed with Lyme's Disease the week before and was having a heck of a time dealing with it and wanted to get a jumpstart on my immune system.

The kids were playing rock, paper, scissors game and didn't really want to go in. It would have been more dangerous for me to hold the baby with one hand, 4 year old with the other and let the 6 y/o walk. 2 months ago I was walking with my kids and almost got killed by a van who didn't even look to see if anyone was walking. Another woman who saw it happen started cursing at the motorist.

As far as circ, there's no law against it, like leaving a kid in a car for a few minutes. I was saying there is a RISK for infection, sepsis, and death. Therefore HARM, ENDANGERING and DEATH. Same as leaving a kid in the car. American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't endorse it, so no reason to do it, except aesthetic reasons.

By the way, my entire family is vegan, I breastfed my kids for 2.5 years each, and I have homebirths. They are extremely healthy, strong, loving and intelligent children and they don't live their lives in fear.

I am proud of my children and proud of the way that I parent and that's all the really matters!

God is the ultimate judge and he cares more about how we are treating each other right now than he does about a parent leaving a kid in a car for a minute. So I'm sorry if I have offended, please forgive!

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As someone who has worked in the field of child welfare for the past 18 years, I applaud the action taken by the police in this case. If this had been a poor minority woman in the same situation, DCFS would have been called in and she'd be jumping through hoops right now to satisfy the State that she is a fit parent. Too often children are left unattended, even for a few minutes, and horrendous things happen. It doesn't take much for someone to carjack a running car (as the nightly news often reports) or for someone to rear-end a parked vehicle -- what would this parents' response have been then? She was caught doing something wrong and was embarrassed when it was broadcast to the world -- boo hoo!! She should be thankful that someone was looking out for her child (when she apparently didn't have the sense to do so!!) Now she's suing the municipality because the police were doing their jobs (and who suffers because of that -- the taxpayers, whose taxes will have to be diverted from providing for the general welfare of the community to defend the officers and department involved in this situation). Lady, you got off lucky when all charges were dropped in court. Pick up the pieces of your shattered life and move on!!

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I live in the town where this occurred. There is more to the story than you have read. The CSO (Community Service Officer) saw this mother park her car. She saw her get out with the other children. She saw her go to the Salvation Army kettle. She confronted her as she returned to her car. The CSO knew what the situation was from the beginning.

There are things known about this CSO that would further explain the overreaction to the situation, however, since there is a civil suit filed against her, I'm not at liberty to share them here.

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As Steve Martin would say, Exxxcccuuusseee MMEEEE!
How little common sense was demonstrated by the police. If any thing she should have been ticketed for illegal parking, but the massive show of police "authority" is just ridiculous. What ever happened to the beat cop mentality to help and serve. Sure a little scolding by the officer may have been justified. And, then to leave the children alone at Wally world, who are the real child endangerers. Please, tell Big Brother we don't need or want him sticking his nose in every aspect of our business. Don't write and compare this to people who leave their children and pets unattended for hours to get their nails done etccc, They should be forced to sit in a sauna without waterfor hours.

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This is not child endangerment! I'm sure that man stood and watched her and knew her intentions. He was being an *** if you ask me.

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