Milwaukee Police Officers help 2-year-old child found hungry in abandoned house

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A 2-year-old boy is safe after being found hungry in an abandoned house. His mother is now getting help thanks to the kindness of some MPD officers who stepped in to help.

"He warmed up to us fairly quick, but he didn't say very many words. He did say mama and that's about it. The hardest part of this job is dealing with seeing these kids victimized," said MPD Officer Vincenzo Paolo.

"Because their parents don't know the resources or their parents just don't reach out," said MPD Officer Daniel Resnick.

A picture of the officer and the toddler is now making its rounds on social media. Police received the call Friday afternoon about a mother and her son living in a vacant home at 29th and Locust. When officers arrived, they found the young boy and his mother living in an abandoned, boarded home, which they say had no heat or running water. 

They say the little boy was wrapped in two or three jackets and appeared to not have eaten for quite some time. The mother had lost her job and fell on hard times, and decided to return to the home where she once lived months ago.

The two responding officers had McDonald's picked up for the hungry boy and they kept him warm in a squad car until he was placed in safe care with the state.

As fathers themselves, the officers say it was a painful call to respond to especially for Officer Paolo who has five adopted children who were once in foster care.

"Being a recipient of the aftermath of things like this, I knew what potentially could have happened with that child. I know how tough it is with the transition from this point to the potential emergency placement home. So, I wanted to make this transition as smooth as possible," said Officer Paolo.

Police say no charges will be brought against the mother, instead, they connected her with groups to help her get back on her feet. Officers also say in these situations their hope is to always reunite the mother and child if that's what's best for the child.