Malden Officers Recognized After Heroic Rescue Of Child

The citation highlighted what city officials described as the quick thinking and decisive response of officers during a dangerous situation.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Aug 20, 2026 3:37 PM EDT

The child was standing on the outside of a high balcony. (Dakota Antelman/Patch)

MALDEN, MA — Two police officers were recently honored for their heroic actions that officials say saved the life of a young child who wandered onto a fourth-floor balcony.

Officers Daniel DiVincenzo and David Kessler were presented with citations by Mayor Gary Christenson recognizing their response to the incident, which occurred in June.

DiVincenzo and Kessler responded to a 911 call for a report of a child standing perilously on the outer perimeter of a fourth-floor balcony railing. Upon arriving at the scene, Kessler kept watch of the child's movements while providing updates to DiVincenzo, who entered the building to locate the boy.

Once Malden firefighters arrived, Kessler showed them the child's location and had crews set up a ladder below the balcony. DiVincenzo reached the boy shortly afterward and was able to rescue him.

According to city officials, the child is nonverbal and has special needs and had wandered onto the balcony while his mother was cooking. Officials credited the officers' quick and decisive actions with saving the boy's life.

Kessler has served with the Malden Police Department since 2021. He was sworn in after graduating from the Municipal Police Training Committee's Reading Regional Police Academy. DiVincenzo joined the department more recently, having been sworn in in the spring of 2025.

Christenson welcomed both officers to his office following the rescue and presented each with a citation thanking them for their heroic actions. Police Chief Marc Gatcomb also joined the officers and mayor for the recognition.

The recognition highlighted what city officials described as the quick thinking and decisive response of both officers during an incident that could have otherwise ended in tragedy.