Suffolk County police officers experienced an unexpected but heartwarming moment on Monday when they helped deliver a baby girl on the side of the highway during a storm. The incident took place around 6:11 p.m. on Sunrise Highway in Shirley, Long Island, where a 37-year-old woman found herself in active labor.
Responding to a 911 call, three rookie officers from the Seventh Precinct—Joseph Lacey, Brendan Nappi, and Jonathan Verity—arrived at the scene. They had only graduated from the Suffolk County Police Academy just days earlier, on Friday. Despite the heavy rain, the officers quickly assisted the woman, who was huddled inside her Honda Accord as she gave birth.
Once the baby was safely delivered, the officers wrapped her in a blanket just before emergency medical services arrived. Both the mother and her newborn daughter were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where they were reported to be healthy and doing well.
This incident is not an isolated case. New Yorkers have often stepped up to help women in labor during challenging situations. Earlier this summer, two Port Authority officers assisted in delivering a baby boy near the Lincoln Tunnel, and just last month, two subway riders helped a woman give birth on the W train in Manhattan.
The quick actions of these officers not only showcased their training but also their commitment to serving the community in any circumstance.