ATLANTA — An APD SWAT officer who saved a 4-month-old baby’s life earlier this month visited the baby in the hospital on Friday.
The City of Atlanta Police Department shared photos of the Officer Robert Oden, the baby and his mother at the hospital.
Atlanta police released harrowing video of the moments the off-duty SWAT officer happened upon the desperate family as they rushed the unresponsive baby to a fire station last week while he was on patrol.
Oden immediately began performing CPR and was able to revive the baby just as an ambulance arrived.
Atlanta police have not released the baby’s name or his condition, but said he’s getting the best care possible from his doctors.
Officer Oden has been checking up on him since the incident occurred.
“If you ask most officers, they will tell you that they see many things on 911 calls, but nothing impacts them or touches their hearts quite like an incident involving a child,” Atlanta police wrote on Facebook. “Many of our officers are parents themselves and their instinct to help, and save people from harm, comes naturally. SPO Oden’s actions and these pictures speak to his compassion, character, and humanity.”
APD S.W.A.T. Officer R. Oden Who Saved 4-Month Old’s Life with CPR-Visits Baby and Mom at Hospital Police officers are...
Posted by City of Atlanta Police Department on Friday, May 20, 2022
APD said they will continue to pray for the baby boy and his family.
Police said OOden was riding along the Martin Luther King Corridor around 12:38 p.m. when he noticed a vehicle driving down the street with its hazard lights on, and the cars began honking frantically.
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Oden followed the car to see if there was an emergency. The people in the car parked at a fire station, jumped out and flagged down the officer for help.
A woman holding the baby ran to Oden saying the baby was not breathing. It’s unclear what caused the baby to stop breathing.
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By the time Grady EMS arrived, Oden successfully gained a pulse and the baby’s legs started to move. The baby was taken to the hospital for further treatment.
Atlanta police also posted a statement on social media that read:
“If being at the right place at the right time was a person, SPO Oden is him. He could not have imagined that his patrolling that area would result in this type of emergency encounter. Officers never know what to expect during their shift, they just show up ready to act. SPO Odens actions were quick, calm, caring, and professional. This is another example of the heroic work that officers do on any given day. His response reflects a high level of training, readiness, and compassion.
We could not be prouder of him in this critical moment. We know the City of Atlanta is safer with SPO Oden and our team of professional, responsive, and caring officers who do this work and patrol our streets, 24/7, and 365 days a week. It is indeed a calling. Job well-done sir!”
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