Child Welfare Employee Cited After Infant Left Alone in Vehicle Outside Bend Office

BEND, Ore. (Aug. 1, 2026) — A Bend Police investigation has resulted in a child neglect citation against an Oregon Department of Human Services employee after authorities say he accidentally left an 8-month-old baby unattended in a vehicle outside a Bend child welfare office.

Police said officers received a report at approximately 1:37 p.m. on July 29 that an ODHS family time coordinator had left a child inside a vehicle the previous afternoon.

According to investigators, Kenneth Michael Anderson, 56, of Bend, coordinated a supervised family visit involving the infant and her family at the Redmond child welfare office on July 28. After the visit concluded at approximately 2:30 p.m., Anderson drove the baby to the Bend child welfare office on Southwest Emkay Drive.

During the drive, the baby fell asleep in the vehicle. Police said Anderson parked the van, entered the office and then left the building in a different vehicle to travel to another location, forgetting the infant remained inside the parked van.

Authorities said Anderson realized approximately 30 minutes later that he had left the child in the vehicle and immediately contacted his supervisor. The supervisor located the baby in the unlocked van, provided care and transported the infant to St. Charles Bend for a medical evaluation.

The child was examined, released without injury and returned to her resource parents, police said.

Following the investigation, Bend Police detectives cited Anderson on July 30 on suspicion of second-degree child neglect.

Police used the incident to remind parents and caregivers never to leave children unattended in vehicles, even for a short period. Officers encouraged motorists to check the entire vehicle, particularly the back seat, before locking the doors and walking away. They also suggested placing a purse, backpack or another personal item in the back seat as a reminder to look before exiting.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a child’s body temperature increases three to five times faster than an adult’s. The agency reported that 31 children died of heatstroke after being left in hot vehicles in 2025.

All suspects are believed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.