The Roanoke Rapids Police Department has received an equipment donation to help patrol officers and its animal control officer determine temperatures inside vehicles.

“With summertime temperatures at the high of more than 90 degrees, it is extremely dangerous for someone to leave a child or an animal in a vehicle unattended,” Chief Chuck Hasty said in a statement. “There have been several instances where this type of occurrence has happened in the nation, and individuals have taken it upon themselves to extricate the child or animal from the vehicle.”

No figures were immediately available on how many calls the police department has received concerning children or animals in vehicles.

Hasty said today intervening in situations like this come down to a personal choice. “They need to report it first,” he said, by calling 911 so law enforcement and emergency services can respond and take appropriate action. “I'm not giving anyone authority to do it. It's what they decide to do.”

Officer Joey Spragins tests the device.

If a citizen should intervene by breaking out glass, Hasty said the police department would “look at it on a case by case basis.”

The nine infrared thermometers came to the police department as a gift from Harold and Rose Massey, owners of Massey Funeral Home.

“He's a friend of the community,” Hasty said of Mr. Massey. “He wants to give back to make the community safe. It's just something he has a concern about, children and animals.”

The donation, made two days ago, enables officers to determine the temperature of a vehicle when a child or animal is left unattended, Hasty said. “Officers being able to get the temperature inside the vehicle and of the child or animal when officers arrive at the call can help with the prosecution of subjects in the court system,” he said. “I would like to thank Massey Funeral Home and other local business that step up and help the police department with these kinds of donations that help the officers do their jobs. ”

Said Mr. Massey: “I think it's very important.”

He got the idea of making the donation after seeing a news report in which an officer used a heat sensor after responding to a report of a child left in a car. “He could point the sensor and tell how hot it was inside. “He broke out the window because it was over 100 degrees. People who leave children and dogs (inside a sweltering vehicle), I think it's very important to be aware and not do it.”

Mr. Massey said he believes it is important to support the police department. “The police department is servants of the people. We need to support them and be behind them in everything they do.”