Philadelphia, PA — Three Philadelphia police officers are being hailed as heroes after dramatic body camera footage captured them performing CPR on an unresponsive 10-month-old baby while racing to the hospital in their patrol cruiser.
A Race Against Time
The incident occurred on August 20 in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood after officers responded to a desperate 911 call from a father whose infant had stopped breathing. When officers arrived, the father met them at the door holding the limp, discolored child.
Without hesitation, the officers took the baby and jumped into their police vehicle. One officer drove at high speed toward the nearest emergency room while two others began life-saving measures in the backseat — performing chest compressions and rescue breaths with a CPR mask.
A Miraculous Recovery
The intense three-minute drive to the hospital was captured on body camera video later released by authorities. During that time, the child regained consciousness twice, according to officials.
Officer Liam Herron, one of the officers who administered CPR, described the experience as “nerve-wracking,” noting the difficulty of performing compressions without seat belts in a moving vehicle.
Doctors credited the officers’ rapid response and coordination for dramatically improving the baby’s chances of survival. The child has since fully recovered, though the cause of the medical emergency remains under investigation.
“This Is Everything I Signed Up For”
Officer Herron, reflecting on the rescue, said the experience was deeply personal.
“I have a 4-year-old son at home,” Herron said. “If this were my son, my niece, my nephew … I just really wanted a great outcome for the child.”
The Philadelphia Police Department praised the officers’ quick actions, calling them a testament to the department’s commitment to public service and community safety.
“It makes me feel amazing,” Herron added. “This is everything I signed up for.”