Two of New York’s finest helped welcome to the world one of New York’s newest residents in Fresh Meadows on Saturday afternoon.
Police Officer Anthony Barton of the 107th Precinct responded to the area of the Long Island Expressway and Kissena Boulevard at 4:15 p.m. Saturday after receiving a call regarding a woman in labor.
Although he did not find anyone at the scene upon arrival, Barton canvassed the area and, within moments, spotted a man flailing his arms standing by a stopped blue Subaru on the eastbound Horace Harding Expressway near Francis Lewis Boulevard.
Authorities said Barton approached the front passenger seat of the vehicle and found the man’s wife in labor, seated in an upright position and the baby’s head crowning.
Barton radioed for assistance and received help from P.O. Michael Pyzikiewicz of NYPD Highway Patrol Unit 3, who is also a paramedic. Pyzikiewicz instructed Barton to have the mother lie in a flat position, then guided him in helping to deliver the child.
Police said Barton reclined the front seat, allowing the mother to recline and deliver the baby within moments. The officer wrapped the newborn boy in a blanket, turned up the car’s heat and cleared fluid from the child’s mouth before Pyzikiewicz and EMS units arrived at the scene to take over.
The baby, along with the new mother and father, were brought to Long Island Jewish Medical Center; all are doing fine. The officers, meanwhile, earned congratulations from Police Commissioner William Bratton via Twitter.
.@NYPDHighway Nice job Officers Barton & Pyzikiewicz. Congrats to the parents! https://t.co/N8DG7dDK0J pic.twitter.com/5RhmrYaRwf
— Commissioner Bratton (@CommissBratton) January 10, 2016
