Hero LI Cops Who Saved Infant's Life Honored For Quick Response

RIDGE, NY — Two Suffolk police officers who rushed to the aid of a woman who delivered her infant alone and then helped start her breathing were recently honored for their quick response at a small ceremony at the 7th Precinct in Shirley by Legis. James Mazzarella.

Officers Alexander Hendrickson and Cory Banwaree responded to a 911 call for Kaitlyn Figeroa, who was alone in her home and was about to give birth, but by the time they arrived, she had given birth to a baby girl named Lily.

The two saw something was wrong as Lily was not yet crying, as newborns do, and they jumped quickly into action, with Banwaree retrieving blankets and other necessities, while Hendrickson cleared the baby’s airway, turned her over, and patted the infant's back until she began to cry.

"With a sigh of relief, Officer Hendrickson joked with Kaitlyn that his wife is 37 weeks pregnant, and said this will be good practice in case his daughter pulls a Lily and forces her mommy to deliver before she arrives at the hospital," police officials said in a statement on Facebook following Lily's birth.

Members of the Ridge Fire Department's Emergency Medical Services squad arrived a few minutes later and transported the healthy newborn and her mom to a local hospital.

Mazzarella, whose district includes the hamlet, said he firmly believes Suffolk has the finest trained police officers in the country.

“The quick actions by these two officers in their response to this emergency is a testament to that training,” he added.

The department's police officers are all certified emergency medical technicians, so the training kicked in.

It's the second time since Christmas Eve that Suffolk police officers helped deliver a baby. Middle Island resident Chelsea Anderson's baby Avion decided he could not wait for her cesarean section, and was delivered in the back of an ambulance by Officer Kyle Negrin, and Ridge paramedic Eric Ramirez before Chief Brian Brooks whisked them away to Stony Brook Hospital.

Mazzarella, who was joined by the precinct's Insp. Matthew McCormick, recognized the Banwaree and Hendrickson, presenting them with county Legislature proclamations and "congratulating them on a job well done.

“In this day and age it is reassuring to know that we can always count on our Suffolk County Police Officers no matter what circumstances they find themselves in," Mazzarella said.

Banwaree has been on patrol with the 7th Precinct for the last five years and has been previously recognized for his hard work and dedication to the community and the department, while Hendrickson has been on patrol with the precinct for three years and was recently transferred to the Community Support Unit.

Mazzarella said he is "always honored to recognize our brave men and women in law enforcement.”

“I would like to thank all of the command staff and officers at the 7th Precinct for everything that they do for our community and our residents on a daily basis," he added. "I would also like to thank the fine volunteers of the Ridge Fire Department for their speedy response. Our first responders give selflessly of their time in order to protect the residents of Suffolk County.”