Newark Cops Help Deliver Baby, And ‘It Feels Really Good’

NEWARK, NJ — “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.” This sentiment from a Newark police officer was shared by his partner as they reflected on their role in the delivery of a newborn on Tuesday.

Prince Rankin and Eric Paro, emergency services officers of the Newark Police Special Operations Division, were on hand to guide a local family through a tense birth, which thankfully, ended with smiles and a “safe delivery,” authorities said.

Here’s how it all went down, according to the Newark Department of Public Safety:

“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 “textbook,” Rankin added.

The newborn’s father cut the cord and Rankin carried the baby in his arms to an awaiting ambulance staffed by two local EMT workers, E. Olson and O. Rijo, who transported the family to University Hospital for further treatment.

“This is my third time assisting in a birth and it feels really good,” Rankin said.

Paro said he had the perfect partner on Tuesday, crediting 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.”

Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé thanked the officers for their quick actions.

“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,” Fragé said.

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