York High Grad Saves 7-Month-Old: Officials

ELMHURST, IL – A York High School graduate is credited with saving a baby in his role as a police officer in Dubuque, Iowa.

Matthew Gamperl, who joined the Dubuque Police Department a couple of years ago, was honored at a recent Dubuque meeting.

Gamperl received a Life-Saving Award, which included a narrative of his actions.

On the morning of May 30, Gamperl responded to a call about a 7-month-old infant who was drowning in the bathtub. When he got there, the baby was laying on the floor. Gamperl determined the infant was not breathing and had no pulse.

Gamperl administered CPR for about two minutes before the arrival of Dubuque firefighters, who took over life-saving measures, police said.

"As a direct result of Officer Gamperl's life-saving actions, the child is alive today," the award said.

In 2019, Gamperl graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration.