I was absoultey amazed when I heard about this and outraged that the police officer handled it this way.
I had been a police officer for 17yrs , prior to my career break and the last 7 of it as a Sergeant. I think the actions of the officer was not due to being ill educated but probably lack of life experince. I remember at the age of 19yrs going to domestic violence situations and telling people what to do , what the hell do I know.
I would imagine and hope that the officer involved was young and inexperinced , whether male or female it doesn't matter. the problem is that many young officers do not how to use their discretion and talk to people. also they are often afraid of members of the public making complaints against them. So if the officer hadn't spoken to the lady no doubt that member of the public would have made a complaint against him. So the officer has lost out either way.
If a member of the public had approached me, with my experince as a police officer and mother I would have given him appropraite advice, mainly go away little man, in the nicest possible way. I may have then gone over to the mum, and sat with her , I would have told her waht had happened but nothing else and no doubt have had a chat about the joys of mother hood.
if I had been the mother I would have told the officer what to do, so to speak.
if he was a constable on my team I given him a him a little chat in my office !!
Interesting that this thread about a police officer doing the wrong thing has generated 200 messages, yet the thread about police woman and mother being shot and killed generated under 20 !!
the Police - one week heroes , the next week villians.