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Visitors, fire chief and resident urge McKinney to consider safe‑haven baby box at fire station
Summary
A visiting mayor and McKinney fire chief described installing a safe‑haven baby box at a neighboring city's fire station and urged McKinney to explore a similar program; speakers emphasized anonymity, alarm notification to firefighters, fundraising, and legal review.
During the public‑comment portion of the McKinney City Council meeting, resident Kyle Sims and Fire Chief Eddie Stowe described how a safe‑haven baby box installed in a nearby fire station provides an anonymous, climate‑controlled option for newborn surrender, with an alarm that notifies first responders. "It allows a parent to drop a baby off safely in a climate conditioned box at a fire station which has an alarm on it and that alarm notifies the fire department," Sims said.
Chief Stowe recounted that he and others responded to three separate incidents of abandoned children who were found deceased and described the box's origin on mission work in Africa; he said the department "gladly installed it" and that the mechanism offers anonymity while connecting infants to care. Mayor Bridal McNeal of McLendon‑Chisholm (attending to share his city's experience) described fundraising that covered unit cost and installation without using tax dollars and urged McKinney officials to find a way to save infants' lives. Councilmembers thanked the presenters and asked staff to consider potential costs and legal reviews as part of any local approach.
