By Shirley Miller, Public Information Officer, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station
CASTAIC – Santa Clarita Valley Station Deputy Christine Shaffer is being credited for helping save a 2-year-old girl’s life after responding to an emergency near-drowning call. On Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015, at approximately 8 p.m., Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station received a chilling 9-1-1 call. A woman caller was on the other line screaming “that a little girl drowned in a pool.”
Saturday had started out as a celebratory day for the Cruz family of Palmdale, but almost ended with tragedy if it were not for the quick thinking actions of Deputy Christine Shaffer. The young couple and their two children, ages 2 and 4, were attending a joint birthday party for two of their relatives. The festivity was being held at Stonegate Community Pool located at 31830 Diamond Lane, Castaic.
As day turned to dusk, the party goers exited the gated, locked [the] community swimming pool and turned to other activities. Evidently while music played, children jumped in a bounce house, and adults talked with each other, a little 2-year-old girl quietly slipped away without anyone’s notice.
Her father had stepped inside the building for just a few minutes to get her older brother some food to eat. Not long after, he said he heard people frantically yelling “that there was a kid in the pool.” He ran outside and to his horror he recognized the lifeless form, it was his daughter.
The father, Freddy Cruz, raced to get in the gated pool but the door was locked and he had no key. With not a moment to spare, he rapidly scaled the 10-foot black iron fence that secured the pool and retrieved his daughter from the water.
When Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station Deputies Jason Goedecke and Christine Shaffer arrived at the scene, the distraught parents had their small daughter lying on the cement sidewalk. Deputy Shaffer immediately sprang into action and began actively rendering emergency aid to the child while Deputy Goedecke flagged down the fire department and controlled radio traffic.
Shortly after, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Park Bureau Deputies Charles Weathers and Matthew Burnett arrived along with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The Park Bureau deputies assisted in giving the little girl rescue breathes until she was conscious and breathing. She was then airlifted to a local hospital.
Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Long said if Deputy Shaffer “had not gotten to the scene as quick as she did and began treatment, we would probably be looking at a different outcome.”
The 2-year-old girl has since been released from the hospital and has made an amazingly full recovery. She suffered no brain damage as a result of the near drowning.
The Cruz family is filled with heartfelt gratitude to Deputy Shaffer; they thought they were going to lose their daughter.
Mario Luna, an uncle of the child said, “My family members and I are now looking into taking cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes. We realize the importance of them now because you never know when you’re going to need to use it.”
Training Officer Deputy Jeffrey Brito at Santa Clarita Valley Station commended the deputy that saved the little girl’s life and said “That child couldn’t have been in better hands.”
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The AV Times.
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William says
“Reality has a liberal bias.” – Stephen Colbert
Lady Liberty says
@william, Stephen who??
William says
I guess if John Birch said something, you’d know who he is, right Lady Liberty?
Her liberty depends on denying liberty to others. What kind of person thinks that way?
A patriot? No.
A Christian? No.
A constitutional conservative who cherry picks the document to suit herself. But, of course.
I suspect Lady Liberty would have some problems with a tax audit as I don’t trust her and neither should the IRS. She makes things up, y’know like non-existent dependents, perhaps. She has a wild imagination so the sky is the limit.
Her comment history certainly lacks any integrity with misleading ‘facts’ and deliberate omissions of other relevant information.
But, that’s all okay. God keeps score and he’ll deal with her later. I only wish it would be on youtube when He does.
Tony says
Hey Tim,
What a commotion you created here just for been always against the cops man!
Any person on their right mind will understand that cops risk their lifes more than anybody else just as soon as they put on their uniform, you need to give some credit to the law enforcement and you won’t be as frustrated, not all of them are bad.
Deputy Schaffer did a great job here! dont try to take this away from us, the ones that support the law, with your crazy comments about other bad cops.
Keep this on mind; “Not because one human been commits a criminal act, means everyone is the same”
Blessings.
Tim Scott says
The statistics prove your “anyone in their right mind will understand” is just flat wrong. Statistics and probabilities really don’t require a whole lot of education, so I’m guessing you either didn’t see them or chose to ignore them. Very few people would just flat out fail to comprehend them.
By the way, in my first comment on this story I also said this deputy had done a great job. It wasn’t me who insisted on bringing up the “great risk” fable. I think it was you, as a matter of fact. Don’t spread lies and you won’t get contradicted is a pretty simple rule.
Lady Liberty says
Tim, Louisiana Senior Trooper Steven Vincent 43 killed on Sunday. Shot in the head by a man whose truck was in a ditch on the side of the road. The trooper got out to see what was wrong and the driver jumped out and shot him in the head. Law enforcement is extremely dangerous!!
Tim Scott says
This event, which is LITERALLY ONE IN A MILLION (yes, there are indeed a MILLION cops in America), proves what now?
William says
Do ya think ‘Lady Liberty for brains’ gives a hoot about young unarmed black males being killed by cops and getting off almost every time.
Off course not. All the selfish Lady L cares about is her ‘liberty’. She’s one Ugly American.
Wb says
William, no but she cares about young black men commiting crime.more than any other.hands up dont shoot.fail
Lady Liberty says
Tim and William, you both have a very extreme problem of hatred for cops. It’s so bad that you can’t even feel bad for any law enforcement death. William is so perverted he makes excuses for cops being killed is ok because unarmed black males are being killed and the cops get off. Statics prove there are more white males shot and killed by cops than blacks. Yes maybe some were unarmed but they were breaking the law and not following directions from the cops. Hands up don’t shot all made up and proven untrue. But with the propaganda of the left you don’t hear about that. What about all the black on black crime which is much more and the liberal press doesn’t report it. William I care about all lives white, black, Asian, Hispanic and everyone else. So William and Tim why don’t you stop trying to discredit anyone who doesn’t agree with you.
Tim Scott says
Citing a one in a million event as a proof that it is a commonly occurring problem was your idea, not mine. Don’t blame me for your lack of credibility. You discredited yourself.
palmdalelady says
*900,000
Tim Scott says
Source?
I used the FBI Crime stats website, which has “full time law enforcement employees” by region. Their most current data is 2013 though, so you may be more current.
I also got in a dispute with a badge licker once over whether “full time law enforcement employees” equals “cops.” If anyone wants to join the opposition on that front they are welcome to it.
palmdalelady says
And while we’re at it there are 41.7 million African Americans the United States and 245 million white people….so if we half that to make them male that are killed by police…it’s 1/20.85 million and 1/122.5 million. A lot less than 1/900 or even for arguments sake 1/1 million. And according to http://killedbypolice.net/ which cites news sources, there were 1106 people killed by police in 2014. That is 1106/143+million.
Tim Scott says
So I take it you aren’t going to source that 900,000 figure. I appreciate being corrected, but if you expect me to use a different figure in the future I need to be able to say something when I get challenged other than “well, I got that number from a commenter on a “news site” in podunk.”
As to the rest of your out of context calculations, the short answer is “so what?” The long answer is…
How do your cited numbers relate in any way to the question of how high risk is being a cop as compared to other jobs? We calculated some rates earlier, measured in deaths on the job per hundred thousand. Some ditz wanted to throw all those calculations out the window by pointing to one killed cop, which makes no sense.
Now you seem to be trying to draw some comparison between cops risks of death on the job compared to what…the risk of being killed by a cop? What does that relationship show us, even if we just take your numbers unverified? Apples to Automobiles? I do not really see where you are trying to go.
I will give you some suggested lines of interesting exploration. Figure out the real risk of being gunned down by cops (this will be challenging, because the numbers are not captured and totaled ANYWHERE…something cops demand and even the director of the FBI has commented on with disapproval) and compare it to the same (apples to apples) calculations for other countries. You will find that there is no country on Earth that you would consider civilized where cops feel the need to slaughter people the way they do here. Now, THAT is a properly factual and interesting use of the statistics you are looking to calculate.
Quigley says
Lady Liberty you are arguing with two who post regularly on this site, and are always correct, no matter what the subject matter. Guess what….no one really gives a rats azz what they say, so why don’t you just post whatever the hell you think, and stop taking the bait!
William says
@Quigley
They do post what thoughts float through their heads but that’s not really called ‘thinking’.
They react from the reptilian part of their brains that all mammals have but humans have evolved with higher brain functions except those 3 don’t accept evolution and, so, they haven’t evolved as you can readily tell from their comments.
And, they certainly prove that there is no intelligent design.
Lady Liberty says
Quigley, you are 100% right about those two. I’m going to take your advice no longer taking the bait. Thanks a bunch.
William says
Gooooood riddance to the stalkers.
William says
Thanks, Quigley
For getting the stalker sisters off our backs.
They are more annoying than telemarketers.
Now, we can have have grown up discussions without their silliness and misinformation polluting the threads with their replies.
realitycheck says
Don’t mind Lil Timmy Scott. You see, he gets his jollies by seeing his name on the right side of the website under the recent comments. He must see his name, or runs upstairs from his mama’s basement and cries in her bosom. Timmy has a deep hatred of cops as we know. He wants you to believe “everyone” he talks to also hates cops. In reality, only the dirt bags on this site share his views. The truth is, the huge majority of working folks in this Valley have had no issue with our deputies. I’ve gone nearly 50 years without more than a few traffic tickets. Tickets I deserved by the way. Lil Timmy said that’s all he’s ever had, but that’s probably a lie, he’s either been to jail himself, or has family that went to jail, prompting his “my family has been harassed by cops” comment. We regular law abiding folks just don’t have much dealing with cops. Either way, when a garbage man, construction worker, logger, or roofer saves a drowning kid, I’ll be the first to say “great job.” However, I don’t recall reading a recent story when a logger, roofer or garbage man drove fast TOWARD gunfire, while others like Lil Timmy Scott ran away from it, all the while still complaining about those evil deputies!
Tim Scott says
For calling yourself “reality check” you seem to be posting a lot of stuff you just made up off the cuff. Now seeing THAT is how I “get my jollies.” If I were a LEO and knew that this kind of lame nonsense is the best that could be put up in my defense I’d quit.
For the record, hardly any house in the AV even HAVE a basement. If you are gona just make stuff up you should at least make it plausible so you aren’t QUITE so obvious about it.
Quigley says
I’m guessin single wide…..
Tim Scott says
Well, at least you have finally acknowledged that your posts are nothing but guesses. Which begs the question: why do you bother?
Quigley says
Well I’m guessin it’s because you’re such an interesting guy with so much knowledge….I might learn a thing or two!
Claire says
The Cruz family was filled with heartfelt gratitude toward Deputy Christine Shaffer for saving their 2-year-old child. This simple, profound, beautiful act stands by itself.
Karen says
Good job Deputy. Prayers the little girl recovers quickly.
Tony says
THANK YOU Deputy Shaffer and THANKS to all law enforcement that are out there risking their lives to help other’s.
Tim Scott says
And to the garbagemen, who statistically are at far more risk of death on the job than cops are. And commercial fishermen. And loggers. And roofers. And electricians. And roughnecks in the oil fields.
Maybe it would be easier if we just drop the whole “risking their lives” bit.
This was a good deed by this deputy. Well done to her!
Quigley says
WOW Tim…..I hope you live alone!
Echo says
Yea, garbage men are at more risk of death of dying of boredom! I hate driving the stupid side loader! Don’t be jealous Tim cuz you couldn’t become a cop.
Nancy P says
This story is about a Deputy, not a garbage man, a roofer, a fisherman, logger, electrician or a roughneck. That’s why someone might take the time to thank a Deputy.
I don’t understand why you feel that it’s your duty, obligation and/or right to make sarcastic comments every time someone makes even the shortest comment regarding an article. It really does make you sound bitter and takes away from the comments you make that are on track.
Tim Scott says
Note that in my comment I did in fact say well done to the deputy. I’m not the one who took this off track with a discussion of dangerous jobs. That would be Tony and his need to suck up to the badge at every opportunity, usually in ways that have nothing to do with the story at hand…or are we going to say that pulling a two year old out of a pool involves tremendous risk of life and limb? I hope it doesn’t take too much away for you, but I see no reason to let the falsehood about “thank them for putting their lives on the line” pass unremarked.
Tony says
At least I suck up to the badge, while you suck up to the criminals at every opportunity you have, maybe because it reminds you when you were doing the same when you were in prision?
Tim Scott says
LOL…more random speculations? Do you EVER say anything that is connected to some sort of facts?
Oh, wait, that thing about you sucking up to the badge…THAT certainly looks true enough. So, tell us more…what’s it like to be a suck up? Do you think they laugh at you behind your back? Do you REALLY think that it puts you in some sort of “good standing” with them where they would bend the law your way?
Irena says
Tim: it isn’t just the actual danger a person faces on the job, but the perception of it as well. None of the other professions that you mentioned have others shooting at them or trying to hurt them on a regular basis. I doubt a lumberjack goes to work concerned about some person is going pull a gun on him. Or that a fisherman sits up at night anxious because he just arrested a drug dealer who uttered death threats to his family.
Law enforcement also has the unique distinction of being universally vilified by many for the actions of a few bad officers. You routinely talk about how corrupt and brutal deputies can be but stop and look at what they have to face both on and off the job. They see the underbelly of society, the people most others actively attempt to avoid. Once off the job, they are bombarded by the media telling them that they are hated and despised by all. (you are a prime example) Should that excuse the behavior of those who become jaded and loose their way? No, but it should make others stop and think about how that constant negativity can make a person feel. Believe it or not, most join the force looking to make a difference, to right wrongs etc. Yes a few join so they can be legalized bullies, or have less noble intentions, but most do not start out that way. Society and media in particular plays a part in molding the bad apples into what they become.
And before you say it, yes a person is ultimately responsible for their own actions, but we do not live in a vacuum; outside side forces DO effect how we interact with one another. Either consciously or sub-consciously, we are all effected to some degree by what is going on around us.
Tim Scott says
Law enforcement is vilified “for the actions of a few” because the rest don’t show the least interest in doing anything about them. If they are going to call themselves “good law enforcement” they should be focusing on policing their own FIRST, not covering for them unless some video turns up that makes it absolutely impossible…and sometimes still trying to cover for them then.
If they don’t want to be “bombarded with” being hated and despised by all maybe they should try not being despicable. I know that being honest isn’t popular around here, but I see no reason to give these thugs any reason to believe their own lies. Get outside their little sycophantic circle they are a necessary evil, AT THE VERY BEST. Letting them know the results of their behavior might change their behavior.
Lady Liberty says
Tim, Law enforcement is not hated and despised by all, only the few who have had problems with them because of a bad attitude. That’s honesty!!
William says
Tim Scott, Lady Liberty is fine with dishonesty. Her political ‘beliefs’/comments are based on dishonesty, misinformation and omitting pertinent facts.
Same with the one called ‘Claire/moll flanders’.
Be gentle with her. She gets riled easily when her false’beliefs’ are challenged with facts. It gets ugly.
Tim Scott says
I just let her offend the people reading. The statistics are really simple, and can be verified with Google in about two minutes…less if you are quick. So when she makes stuff up in the face of facts I figure anyone who takes a minute will recognize she is just lying to them and react accordingly.
That’s why I don’t worry about all the nonsense these “commenters” make up about me. Facts are facts, and speculation is speculation, and facts will ALWAYS win out eventually.
Lady Liberty says
William, come on now. Enough with your failed attempts at being funny! I’m not dishonest just because I state my political beliefs. As I said I’m a constitutional conservative. You are a liberal socialist. By the way I don’t get riled I just have a laugh at such hatred your spewing.
William says
You are a liar, LL. You have no sense of humor. I bet you suck the life out of a New Year’s Eve party with your personality, such as it is. Do you have any friends at all?
Your beliefs are dishonest because they ain’t real just like Santa Claus isn’t real.
You are a liar because I am not a socialist and a liberal Demorat is a good thing if you would bother to become familiar with a dictionary. Webster’s definition didn’t include Democrat as a synonym for ‘socialist’.
William says
Re: Lady Liberty’s news source, the Washington Times.
“The Washington Times has lost money every year that it has been in business. By 2002, the Unification Church had spent about $1.7 billion subsidizing the Times.”
A newspaper subsidized by a foreign church and Lady Liberty proudly claims it as one of her sources. Well, you just know it’s ‘fair and balanced’ just like fox ‘news’.
The quote was from Wikipedia. If LL doesn’t believe it, she should supply her version of the ‘truth’.
William says
You are a hateful, unforgiving person Lady Liberty and it shows in every one of your comments. Yet, you hide behing some religious shield. That is the worst kind of hypocrisy.
Nothing you’ve ever written shows any compassion or love for your fellow humans on this planet. Your hatred comes through loud and clear even when you try to project it on me and others.
That gives you away. I never use the word ‘hate’ in my comments other than to point out your use of it. You use it routinely to describe those you ‘hate’. You aren’t fooling anyone.
You belong to a political party that has alienated so many groups of people while they call the President “divisive”. He has had such self-control while your leaders are completely unhinged but you don’t notice that. Why? Because you are just as hateful as they are, so it doesn’t register with you.
Mike says
Very well said Irena….