Recently, a Suffolk County police officer delivered a baby girl for a woman who had pulled off to the side of a road in the middle of the night. Newsday reported that the vehicle had pulled off on Deer Park Avenue in Dix Hills, and the officer checked to see if everything was okay. He ended up delivering a baby girl weighing 6 pounds 11 ounces. Afterward, she and her mother were taken to Huntington Hospital.
While a 911 call hadn’t alerted the officer, there are many instances where 911 calls have enabled police officers to help people. According to an ABC News report, the Suffolk County 911 operators use mapping software that can trace calls equipped with GPS chips. Their computers triangulate callers’ locations by measuring distances to the closet cell phone towers.
This new 911 capability is what Senator David Koon has spent years fighting for. He was elected to the New York State Assembly after his daughter died in a car jacking. She had managed to dial 911 but was unable to speak. The operator suspected a problem and kept the phone line open. At that time, the current 911 tracking system wasn’t in place, and it took two hours for police to locate Jenny Koon, but at that point she was already dead. Senator Koon believes if the system had been in place then, his daughter would still be alive today.
As a safety precaution, you should always have your cell phone with you when driving on the road. Also, when an emergency arises, don’t hesitate to dial 911 as soon as possible. The police are ready and willing to help you.
Our Long Island attorneys at Palermo Touhy Bruno wish you a safe and happy holiday season.