Ocean Co. Officer Rescues Child From Van, Pays For Window Repair

ISLAND HEIGHTS, NJ — Island Heights Patrolman Rocco Mellott was a hero to a mother not once but twice, rescuing her child from her minivan and helping with the cost to repair the necessary damage.

Mellott answered a call on River Avenue July 12 and found a frantic mother outside her minivan, the police department said in a post on its Facebook page.

The mom had buckled her child into a car seat in the back seat, and when she tried to open the driver's door, she discovered it was locked and she had accidentally left her keys on the seat, police said.

Mellott called for first aid, and for a tow truck to use a lock-out kit on the minivan to open the door. But as minutes passed, he saw the child was starting to sweat in the heat inside, and with the mother's consent, smashed the window to rescue the child, police said.

First aiders examined the child and found no signs of any ill effects from the heat, police said.

The mother, who told police she was very grateful, also told Mellott that she would be struggling to pay to repair the window. Mellott responded by making arrangements with the Island Heights PBA and the Island Heights First Aid to help pay for the replacement window.

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