Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT REPORTER: THE HOUSE HAS BEENBOARDED UP FOR MONTHS BUT THATDIDN'T STOP A YOUNG WOMAN FROMSQUATTING THERE WITH HERTWO-YEAR-OLD SON UNTIL ANEIGHBOR CALLED SOCIAL SERVICES.>> TRYING TO GET THAT CHILD SOMEWATER, AND THEY WERE CONCERNEDBECAUSE THE MOTHER WAS ALSOPREGNANT.REPORTER: POLICE NOTICED BOARDSACROSS THE DOOR WERE LOOSE ANDPOUNDED ON IT, UNTIL THE MOM LETTHEM IN.THE HOUSE WAS VERY COLD.BROKEN UPSTAIRS WINDOWS.A DRAFT THROUGH THE HOUSE.CLOTHES AND GARBAGE EMBEDSAMONGST THE HOUSE.REPORTER: AND AMIST THE MESS,OFFICER DAN RESNICK CAME ACROSSA MATTRESS WITH WHAT HE THOUGHTWAS A PILE OF BLANKETS.>> I JUST MOVED THE SHEETS.AND THEN THAT IS WHEN I SAW THE2-YEAR-OLD FOR THE FIRST TIME.HE WAS IN WHAT LOOKED TO BEABOUT TWO OR THREE WINTERJACKETS.REPORTER: THE BOY WAS SLEEPING.HIS MOM EXPLAINED SHE'D FALLENON HARD TIMES.>> THE HARDEST PART OF THIS JOBIS DEALING WITH SEEING KIDSVICTIMIZED.>> VERY COLD.VERY HUNGRY.THERE WAS NO FOOD.NOTHING TO DRINK.REPORTER: SO OFFICER VIN PAOLOROUNDED UP SOME CHICKENMCNUGGETS. >> HE WAS REALLY HUNGRY.REPORTER: HIS PARTNER TEASINGLYSENT THIS PICTURE TO PAOLO'SWIFE BECAUSE THEY'VE ADOPTEDFIVE FOSTER CHILDRENCOWORKERS OFTEN JOKE WITH MEAS IF I AM GOING TO TAKE, EVERYCHILD I SEE.I REALLY WISH I COULD.>> THAT IS WHEN THE PICTURE WASORIGINALLY TAKEN.HE WAS ADOPTING ANOTHER ONE.HERE YOU GO.>> WE DO NOT WANT RECOGNITION.IT IS JUST WHAT WE DO BECAUSE WEARE DADS.

Advertisement Officer who rescued toddler from abandoned house has five foster kids at home Boy was found sleeping in cold, abandoned home on Friday Share Shares Copy Link Copy

When officers Vin Paolo and Dan Resnick went to an abandoned home on Milwaukee's northwest side last Friday, they didn't know what they'd find.They were greeted by a young pregnant woman who admitted to squatting in the boarded-up two-story house since falling on hard times. "The house was very, very cold," Paolo told WISN 12 NEWS on Monday. "Broken upstairs windows, draft through the house, clothes and garbage and beds amongst the house."And amid the mess, Resnick came across a mattress with what he thought was a pile of blankets. He moved the items and there, wrapped in several winter jackets, was a 2-year-old boy. He was fast asleep, but conditions were clearly unsuitable."The toughest part of the job is seeing a young child victimized," Resnick said. Paolo took the boy to their squad car while Resnick stayed inside with the young mom. Once in the warm squad car, and presuming the toddler was hungry, Paolo called for another officer to bring chicken nuggets from McDonald's. "Oh he was really hungry. He scarfed it down," said Paolo.Resnick returned to the vehicle during the meal and snapped a photo of the boy on Paolo's lap. Knowing that Paolo has five foster children at home, Resnick teasingly sent the photo to Paolo's wife. "Coworkers often joke with me as if I'm going to take home every child that I see, and I really wish that I could," Paolo said. The photo, later posted on Facebook, has been shared hundreds of times. The young mother is now working with social services to find adequate housing. The toddler, meanwhile, is in foster care, but not with Paolo and his wife. Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 mobile app or with our email newsletters.Give us a follow: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube