Police Officer and Former EMT Removed Cord from Baby’s Neck
Newark Public Safety Director Fritz G. Fragé announces that Emergency Services Officers of the Newark Police Special Operations Division, Prince Rankin and Eric Paro, assisted in the delivery of a newborn on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
“I commend Officers Rankin and Paro for being hands-on in facilitating the safe delivery of this Newark family’s new addition,” Director Fragé said. “People often think of the Emergency Services Unit as springing into action only during high-risk law enforcement incidents involving rescuing hostages or extracting barricaded persons. But I am honored to report that the Newark Emergency Services Police are also deployed to assist in bringing about happy outcomes, like this one,” he added.
At approximately 3 a.m., the two officers raced to a residence in the 500 block of Springfield Avenue on a call of a woman in labor. Officers Rankin and Paro located the expectant mother lying on her side in her bedroom. She had been experiencing contractions since about 9 p.m. last night, and the contractions intensified and began coming in more quickly overnight.
The officers assisted the mother onto her back and observed the baby’s head crowning with the umbilical cord around its neck. Officer Rankin, who served as an EMT for over 10 years before becoming a Newark Police Officer, removed the cord. At that moment, the mother pushed and he assisted in safely bringing the baby girl into the world at 3:30 a.m.
“I really didn’t want her to push at that point,” Rankin said. “But when she did, I looked at my partner and said “All right, we’re doing this! Even though the baby was born blue and needed oxygen treatment, the delivery was as textbook and as perfect as could be. This is my third time assisting in a birth and it feels really good,” he added.
Officer Paro says he had the best partner for this incident because of Rankin’s previous experience in assisting with births. “It was probably the best hands-on training I could have ever had,” he said. “Just bringing a child into the world, and knowing that she’s safe and breathing, shows that as police officers, we’re here for a reason.”
The newborn’s father cut the cord and Officer Rankin carried the baby in his arms to an awaiting ambulance manned by EMTs E. Olson and O. Rijo, who transported the family to University Hospital for further treatment.
“I extend my most heartfelt congratulations to the family and earnestly thank the officers for their vigilance in being highly competent and conscientious first responders who helped bring about a joyous ending, not only for this family but for the entire City of Newark,” Director Fragé said.
