Infant Surrendered At City Of Industry Fire Station

CITY OF INDUSTRY (CBS) — A 3-hour-old infant was surrendered at a fire station Monday, the fifth such "safe surrender" in the county this year, a county supervisor said Tuesday.

"This case could have ended in tragedy," said Supervisor Don Knabe, "but because of the Safe Surrender program, this baby boy has a long life ahead of him."

The baby will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services, Knabe said.

The newborn was dropped off at Fire Station 87 at 140 S. Second Ave. at 3 p.m. Monday. It was the fifth safe surrender in Los Angeles County in 2010 and the 81st since the program began nine years ago.

The Safe Surrender law, which has saved 81 lives since the program began, allows the anonymous surrender of an infant no more than 3-days-old to hospital or fire station personnel.

As long as the infant shows no signs of abuse or neglect, the parent will not be arrested or prosecuted for abandonment.

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