Off Duty LAPD Officer Saves Baby’s Life

Los Angeles: On Thursday, June 20, 2002, at approximately 6:45 p.m., off- duty Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Officer Kimberly Porter, 6 ½ years with the Department, assigned to Central Bureau Special Enforcement Unit, was driving home when she observed a woman holding a small baby, 14-month-old, in her arm. The woman was frantically shouting for help in the street on Madison Street near Del Amo Boulevard in the City of Torrance. Officer Porter immediately pulled over to assist the woman. Officer Porter further observed the baby to be blueish in color, pulseless, and not breathing.

As Officer Porter told the woman to call 9-1-1, she positioned the baby in a grassy area next to the sidewalk and began performing CPR. An unknown citizen also responded and assisted Officer Porter during the CPR. The baby’s mother was unable to get through to the 9-1-1 operator via cellular phone. Officer Porter then made a quick decision to call her husband, an LAPD sergeant assigned at the time as the Watch commander at LAPD’s Harbor Area Community Police Station.

Sergeant Michael Porter then contacted the Torrance Fire Department and requested them to respond to the location. By the time Torrance Fire Department personnel responded, the baby had recovered and resumed breathing on his own. The baby was transported to a local hospital where he is doing fine.

Officer Porter, despite being six months pregnant, elected to stop and aid a community member who was in need of emergency service. She saved the baby’s life. This was another fine example of LA’s finest in action providing service to community members, on and off-duty.
Both Officer Porter and the happy mom can be made available for media interviews by contacting Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee.