07.27.07
One Size Fits All In A Crisis
On Wednesday a Benicia man, Danny Takemoto, who that day was beginning a new schedule, forgot that his 11-month-old boy was buckled into his car seat in the back of the car. Takemoto parked his car, went to work, and didn’t remember his son until his wife called many hours later, wondering why the boy wasn’t at daycare.
Can you imagine what this poor man went through as he dashed to his car? If you are or have been a parent with young children, you’ve probably experienced similar lapses. You’re not paying as much attention as you should and suddenly can’t find your child. You turn your back for just a second or your mind drifts off for even less time, and your child manages to dash into the street.
With luck your child is okay. I’m sure Takemoto was hoping the same. But his son wasn’t okay. Then, on the worst day in Takemoto’s life, when he had made the worst mistake he will ever make, he’s arrested and taken off to jail.
I suppose a cell to a police officer is like an emergency room to a doctor: if something goes wrong, each assumes the worst and takes action — one size fits all when there’s a crisis. But perhaps the quickness to lock someone up who clearly is not a criminal, who isn’t wandering the neighborhood endagering children, should be rethought.
In fact there should always be solutions that don’t involve handcuffs and incarceration.
The man has been released from jail, but prosecutors haven’t yet ruled out criminal charges. At sad times like this I’m not sure we’ve moved much beyond the stone age.
Tanya Delahaye said,
08.29.07 at 12:37 am
My aunt is friends with the family. This was pretty sad. And even worse, to think that it was just an accident, too.