Darkest Day At The PD

*****Warning: Toddler death AND late miscarriage mentioned here*****
The other day my husband called me in the evening from work. I was making dinner and Little Buddy was playing and I asked him how his night was going like I usually do. He said that it could quite possibly be the darkest day he's had since he started. Now I didn't know what to think cause he's had some really horribly dark days with stabbings, neglected children, train suicides, etc. He then told me that a 2 year old was killed. Those are the worst days for police officers of any age, experience, and personality. Apparently, a family was getting ready for dinner and all the kids came inside from playing outside. Then the 17 year old daughter was leaving in the family SUV. She was backing up and hit something. The little boy had quickly gotten outside and behind the car. Literally in the blink of an eye, toddlers move that fast. I won't go into detail but it was very bad the way it all transpired and he was dead instantly. All police were racing there including my husband even though it was out of his area. By the time that he got close there were so many people, paramedics, and law enforcement there that he called himself off. He knew that the situation was under control. He said he was glad because he did not want to see it, he didn't think he could handle it being the father of a 2 year old Little Buddy. I'm very glad he did not have to see it because I think that would have been very, very hard for him to get over.

Then upon returning to the department to work on new reports, he found out that his coworker who was 6 months along had miscarried. She was really excited and already had a few children. My husband really got into her pregnancy because we too are trying and eager to add on to our family. Apparently, she had some of the women in the office feel the kicking while she was working in there with them because they put her on light duty for the pregnancy. Then one day one of the women said she didn't feel anything and told the pregnant officer and the pregnant officer said that she did not feel anything for a couple of days. The office worker (an older, experienced mother of grown children and some grandchildren) told her she should go to the doctor just to get checked and put her mind at ease.

There was no heartbeat. The baby had died. They were going to induce labor that evening. She would have to deliver a deceased child. How awful, horrible and tragic. I could not even imagine the pain, the darkness . . . . . .

Then later I imagined what would happen to her. She would deliver the child and hold it. Then there would be a memorial. The child would most likely be named and photographed. The mother would still be wearing maternity clothes and her milk would come in too. She still has other children to care for. I cannot even imagine. I cannot imagine.

The whole department has been in a dark cloud ever since that day.