Does Having A Lifeline Mean Constitutional Rights Can Be
Violated?
Shortly after midnight on October 6th my phone rang. I wasn't awake enough to answer and my nearly
deaf, disabled partner, sleeping very soundly didn't hear it. Eight minutes later it rang again and I did
not have a chance to answer it because simultaneously there was a loud pounding
at my front door. We heard the banging, stumbled to the front door where a man
was shouting 'police - a Lifeline alert call has gone unanswered'. My partner
stated his name and that there was no medical emergency. Knowing we didn't push the Lifeline alert
button, he was skeptical to open the door but the officers demanded so. Still half asleep, he opened the door,
holding up his hand stating once again his name while informing the police that
there was no medical emergency. In the time it took for me to get a robe on and
go to the kitchen, my partner was on the floor, held down by an officer's knee
in his back, hands being held behind his back, and another officer was reaching
for handcuffs. I started screaming for them to stop. He is disabled, has spinal
cord injuries and a heart condition. Shortly thereafter about 6 or 7 police
officers were in our home, going from room to room, opening every closet and
door, searching the entire house. The paramedics, when they arrived, were told
to leave by the police never speaking to us.
We have been severely traumatized by this. We cancelled the Lifeline the next day in
fear that this could happen again.
Copyright V. Rose 2013
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