Choking Child Saved At NYPD Graduation, Police Say

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Quick-thinking police officers sprung into action when an infant began choking at Wednesday's NYPD Graduation Ceremony in Madison Square Garden, police said.

Lieutenant Greg Besson and Detective Mark Rubins were attending the ceremony when they noticed a commotion in the spectator area, police said. The family of one of the graduates, police officer Leonardo Escorcia, was requesting help because the graduate's 1-year-old son was choking, police said.

Besson and Rubins ran over to the family to aid the boy, who was unconscious, police said. Rubins, who is also a paramedic, was able to dislodge a piece of popcorn from the boy's throat, allowing him to regain consciousness, police said.

The 1-year-old was inspected at the EMS station inside Madison Square Garden and then transported to St. Lukes Hospital for more evaluation, police said.

Photo by NYPD