Webster First Responders Who Delivered Baby In Emergency Receive Award

WEBSTER, MA — A Webster police officer, a dispatcher and the town’s EMS received an award on Tuesday for their quick and coordinated response during an emergency childbirth earlier this year, according to a news release from the DA's office.

The six recipients of the Team Excellence and Merit (TEAM) Award were:

• Melissa Bak, Webster police officer;
• Austin Bacigalupo, Webster EMS Lieutenant;
• Cassandra Pires, paramedic;
• Errol Defreitas, paramedic;
• Andrew Godfrin, paramedic;
• Rebecca Prefontaine, dispatcher at South Worcester County Communication Center.

The Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. presented the TEAM award to the group, which recognizes outstanding service and coordination by those in public safety.

DA Early cited a medical emergency from March 19, when a Webster resident called 911 to report that his 36-year-old wife had gone into active labor in their home.

All parties worked together to deliver a healthy baby, with Dispatcher Prefontaine first coordinating the emergency response team. Then, Webster police officer Bak arrived at the scene and successfully delivered her baby in less than one minute.

“In medical emergencies like this, every second counts,” said DA Early. “Officer Bak demonstrated great urgency and professionalism. She worked seamlessly with this highly skilled team of paramedics, firefighters, police officers and dispatcher to safely deliver this baby.”

Webster EMS made it to the house shortly after to give medical care to the baby and her mother.

“This incident is a shining example of the professionalism displayed by the public safety professionals in Webster,” said Webster Police Chief Michael Shaw, "...the Town of Webster has a public safety team that is second to none.”