A New Jersey police officer responded to a home after a boy with autism called 911 after losing his teddy bear.
Ryan Paul, 12, was playing in his bedroom at the house in Woodbridge when the bear, Freddy, went missing.
Ryan became upset and dialed the emergency number.
“I said, ‘Ryan, did you call 911?’ and he said ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘Why?’ And he said, ‘Teddy bear rescue,'” Ryan’s father Robert Paul told ABC 13.
Officer Khari Manzini was dispatched to the house.
Boy with autism calls 911 after his teddy bear goes missing in New Jersey https://t.co/gpduKYrle6 pic.twitter.com/zzxlfrbSrL
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) March 19, 2019
“We found the teddy bear; the teddy bear was OK,” Officer Manzini said. “He was in safe hands, no injuries, nothing like that.”
Manzini said he’s received training on how to deal with people with autism and that it comes in handy in situations like responding to the home.
Robert Paul called 911 back after he realized what his son had done and told them it was a mistake but Woodbridge Township Police Department policy dictates officers respond to the locations of hang-up calls, reported Pix 11.
“Whenever we can use that training to make sure that not only do we keep ourselves safe, but those folks that we’re helping out safe, you know it makes a great difference,” Manzini said.
Ryan’s father said he’s explained to his son that losing his teddy bear is not an emergency.
When a 12-year-old with autism called 911 for help finding his missing teddy bear, the New Jersey police officer who responded offered kindness and understanding. >> https://t.co/Q6w2hJOs3J
— KPLC (@KPLC7News) March 19, 2019
Dispatcher Praised for Helping Boy With Homework
A 911 dispatcher was praised earlier in the year for staying on the phone after a boy called to say he “had a really bad day” and had “tons” of homework.
The boy, who hasn’t been named publicly, told Antonia Bundy, the Lafayette Police Department dispatcher, that he was struggling with math homework.
The department released audio of Bundy calmly helping the student out with his homework. With her help, the boy was able to solve the problem. “I’m sorry for calling you, but I really needed help,” he said.
“Our dispatchers never know what the next call might be. They train for many emergency situations, homework help is not one they plan for. We don’t recommend 911 for homework help but this dispatcher helped a young boy out and brightened his day,” the Lafayette Police Department said in a post on Twitter.
Our dispatchers never know what the next call might be.They train for many emergency situations, homework help is not one they plan for. We don’t recommend 911 for homework help but this dispatcher helped a young boy out and brightened his day.@PoliceOne @apbweb @wlfi @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/w3qCYfJP7O
— LafayetteINPolice (@LafayetteINPD) January 25, 2019
“When a young child calls to ask for homework help, Antonia didn’t miss a beat,” it added later.
“We get a lot of unusual call requests but this one kind of stood out,” Lafayette Police Sgt. Matt Gard added to ABC 7.
Officials said that Bundy, who has been a dispatcher since April 2016, is a hard worker.
“She’s very much a dedicated employee, it doesn’t surprise us that she goes above and beyond on a regular basis,” said Gard.
