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Omaha Steve

(99,660 posts) Sun Apr 26, 2015, 09:54 PM Apr 2015

Officer reunited with newborn he found in dumpster in 1989

Source: AP

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — An officer who found an abandoned newborn in a garbage dumpster was reunited with the now 25-year-old man he helped save.

Santa Ana police officer Michael Buelna and Robin Barton met recently in an emotional reunion, KABC-TV reported Sunday (http://bit.ly/1PJ1yHs).

"I hoped that someday I would see him again," Buelna said.

Buelna was on duty in November 1989 when he heard a faint sound coming from a trash bin. Buelna started shifting through the trash and discovered a baby, his umbilical cord still attached. The child was just four hours old and weighed 4 pounds, 2 ounces.

FULL story and more photos at link.

In this April 24, 2015 still frame from video provided by KABC-TV, retired Santa Ana, Calif., police officer Michael Buelna, right, joins Robin Barton, now 25, as they are reunited in Santa Ana for the first time since Buelna found Barton as a newborn abandoned in a garbage dumpster. Buelna was on duty on Nov. 21, 1989 when he heard a faint sound coming from a behind a trash bin, sifted through the trash and discovered a baby, his umbilical cord still attached. The child was just four hours old and weighed 4 pounds, 2 ounces. Buelna wanted to adopt him but another Orange County family stepped in first.(KABC-TV via AP)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6a8337f1915445ec967810bd1d8d66e2/officer-reunited-newborn-he-found-dumpster-1989

15 replies

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Highlight:

Officer reunited with newborn he found in dumpster in 1989 (Original Post) Omaha Steve Apr 2015 OP

Every day many cops do outstanding work Botany Apr 2015 #1

Yes they do MissDeeds Apr 2015 #7

This really got me: ...Buelna wanted to adopt him but another Orange County family stepped in first. duhneece Apr 2015 #2

Should have been finders keepers if you ask me. nt Laffy Kat Apr 2015 #3

Angels among us Telcontar Apr 2015 #4

that's such a hear warming story after all these articles about police brutality. n/t deafskeptic Apr 2015 #5

It's easy to be cynical, but that doesn't diminish anyone's good deeds. nomorenomore08 Apr 2015 #6

I think that for whatever reason a mother/father needs to relinquish a child there should be midnight Apr 2015 #8

Some places have "Baby Moses" laws. area51 Apr 2015 #10

Critics also claim that safe-haven laws undercut temporary surrender laws, which were enacted midnight Apr 2015 #14

Nebraska and several other states do Omaha Steve Apr 2015 #13

Good for Nebraska. I hope they post this information so the public knows... midnight Apr 2015 #15

Thank goodness fate took Michael Buelna to that spot at the right time. n/t Judi Lynn Apr 2015 #9

Looking at the photo of them montana_hazeleyes Apr 2015 #11

Good Cop gets the doughnut. GOLGO 13 Apr 2015 #12

Botany

(70,516 posts)

1. Every day many cops do outstanding work

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Apr 26, 2015, 10:08 PM

Apr 2015

Buelna

MissDeeds

(7,499 posts)

7. Yes they do

Reply to Botany (Reply #1)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 12:09 AM

Apr 2015

duhneece

(4,113 posts)

2. This really got me: ...Buelna wanted to adopt him but another Orange County family stepped in first.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Apr 26, 2015, 10:09 PM

Apr 2015

Laffy Kat

(16,383 posts)

3. Should have been finders keepers if you ask me. nt

Reply to duhneece (Reply #2)

Sun Apr 26, 2015, 10:52 PM

Apr 2015

Telcontar

(660 posts)

4. Angels among us

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Apr 26, 2015, 11:27 PM

Apr 2015

Thanks for that.

Heartwarming

deafskeptic

(463 posts)

5. that's such a hear warming story after all these articles about police brutality. n/t

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Apr 26, 2015, 11:45 PM

Apr 2015

nomorenomore08

(13,324 posts)

6. It's easy to be cynical, but that doesn't diminish anyone's good deeds.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 12:04 AM

Apr 2015

And this was a hell of a good deed, on the officer's part.

midnight

(26,624 posts)

8. I think that for whatever reason a mother/father needs to relinquish a child there should be

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 12:55 AM

Apr 2015

hospital areas or schools. Some neutral place with no questions asked. It's a miracle this office was able to recover the infant from the dumpster.

area51

(11,911 posts)

10. Some places have "Baby Moses" laws.

Reply to midnight (Reply #8)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 03:47 AM

Apr 2015

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe-haven_law

midnight

(26,624 posts)

14. Critics also claim that safe-haven laws undercut temporary surrender laws, which were enacted

Reply to area51 (Reply #10)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 08:59 AM

Apr 2015

specifically for parents who are unsure about whether to keep or relinquish their children. Supporters counter by arguing that anonymity is the only way to convince certain parents not to harm their infants, and that the benefit outweighs any claimed detriment.

Thanks for this link. I can't decide what is worse. To feel that you can't find a way to take care of your child, or to discover a way after you relinquish and safe-haven says no. But I do know for certain, parents need a place like this.

Omaha Steve

(99,660 posts)

13. Nebraska and several other states do

Reply to midnight (Reply #8)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 10:33 AM

Apr 2015

Any hospital in Nebraska.

They had to change the law to like a few weeks old as a limit. When the law was passed people were bringing in all ages up to 19.

OS

midnight

(26,624 posts)

15. Good for Nebraska. I hope they post this information so the public knows...

Reply to Omaha Steve (Reply #13)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 09:07 AM

Apr 2015

Can you imagine taking a child as old as 19-times are tough. I would hope that our colleges would have a dormitory and some resources to prepare these young people.