Behind the Badge
Being parents themselves, Santa Ana Police Department detectives empathize with the family of a 3-year-old girl who sustained serious injuries from an accidental fall out of a third story window recently.
The child has undergone two surgeries and remains hospitalized, according to her mother, Wendy Liborio.
Detectives with the homicide and special crimes units felt compelled to help the family however they could. The detectives collected toys, clothes, a crib and other items and delivered them to the family on Feb. 25.
“Something like this is very traumatic to any family,” said Det. Rene Bonilla, who investigated the incident. “On behalf of our Chief, David Valentin, and on behalf of our sworn and nonsworn personnel in our department, we came up with some goods to donate to the family.”
Santa Ana Police Department Deputy Corporal Rene Bonilla gives a fist bump to a 3-year-old girl as members of the department stopped by to deliver donated gifts to the family of another 3-year-old who survived a fall from an apartment window in February and was still in the hospital following two surgeries.
Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
On Feb. 11, officers responded to an alley off 15th Street in Santa Ana, where they discovered a child had fallen from a third-story window. The child was standing on a couch that was close to the window and apparently leaned up against the window when she fell out, Sgt. Maria Lopez said.
Detectives determined the fall was an accident.
“Every day we go out to situations that potentially involve crime,” Lopez said. “Anytime a situation involves a child, it hits everyone in the department. It hits everybody in the community.”
The family was told that the girl may not survive the first surgery, and if she did she might not be able to speak or walk, Liborio said, sharing that she is making progress.
“I hope that with my faith, I truly believe she is going to improve,” Liborio said. “I have full faith.”
Santa Ana Police Department Deputy Corporal Rene Bonilla, left, and Detective Matthew Thomas greet Wendy Liborio with a pile of donated gifts as she arrives home at her apartment complex. Liborio’s daughter survived a fall from an apartment window.
Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
“I’m very thankful to the detectives for their support and just their presence, just being here, their company here,” she said.
The presence of the officers alone is comforting, Liborio said.
Liborio advised other parents to be aware of where furniture is placed and how their home is set up and to make changes if needed.
This is not the first time Santa Ana officers have brought comfort to a family in the wake of a tragedy.
In October, the department presented $1,100 to the family of a 3-year-old boy who fell out of a window and died.
“It is important for (the family) to see that we are not just here responding to critical incidents of crime,” Lopez said. “If we can help out in any way, to make their situation a little bit better, that is what is important.”
Santa Ana Police Department detectives stand with the family of a 3-year-old who survived a fall from an apartment window as they deliver a pile of donated gifts to the family’s apartment. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Department Corporal Diego Lopez carries a donated crib mattress into the apartment of the family of a toddler who survived a fall from an apartment window. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Department Corporal Diego Lopez, left, and Detective Jorge Gaeta carry donated gifts into the apartment of the family of a toddler who survived a fall from an apartment window in February. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Department detectives carry a pile of donated gifts into the apartment of the family of a 3-year-old who survived a fall from a window. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Department detectives carry a pile of donated gifts into the apartment of the family of a 3-year-old who survived a fall from a window. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Department detectives stand with the family of a toddler who survived a fall from an apartment window. The girl was recovering in the hospital. The detectives delivered a pile of donated gifts to the family. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
A pile of donated gifts, delivered by the Santa Ana Police Department, sit on the sidewalk in front of the apartment complex of the family of a young girl who fell out of a window in February and was still in the hospital following two surgeries. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Department detectives greet Wendy Liborio with a pile of donated gifts as she arrives home. Liborio’s daughter survived a fall from a window in February and was still in the hospital following two surgeries. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Family members of a 3-year-old who survived a fall from an apartment window check out a pile of gifts donated to them and delivered by the Santa Ana Police Department. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
