Police officers' quick response saves baby

Gallup Police officers Harold Littlefied, right, and David Evans received commondations after giving first aid to an unresponsive infant. Littlefield gave the infant CPR until emergency medical personal arrived. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Police officer Harold Littlefield knew he was responding to a serious situation when he heard the screams of a panicked mother.

Littlefield, accompanied by patrolman David Evans, were dispatched in mid-February to a call at the Terrace Apartments regarding a baby who had stopped breathing.

"We figured something serious was going on because we could hear the mother," Littlefield said.

When Littlefield and Evans arrived at the apartment, they found the baby unresponsive and with an irregular pulse. Littlefield flashed a small light in the infant's eyes; however, his pupils exhibited no response to the bright light.

That's when Littlefield and Evans began to initiate CPR on the young baby. After several cycles, the baby began to breathe on his own.

"We were basically breathing for the baby for a little while," Littlefield said.

Within moments, EMS staff arrived and shuttled the struggling 3-month-old infant to a local hospital where he was later transported to Albuquerque for treatment of complications due to his premature birth. The officers then remained with the mother's toddler while she joined her baby at the hospital. However, Littlefield's and Evan's lifesaving efforts did not go unrecognized. The pair's shift leader, Sgt. Francie Martinez, emailed a letter of commendation, which detailed the officers' actions, to Police Chief Sylvester Stanley, Deputy Chief Don Raley and other leaders within the department.

"Because of the officers' heroic efforts and quick response, baby Haley is in satisfactory condition," the letter reads. "I would like to to take this opportunity to applaud your dedication and hard work serving the City of Gallup."

Littlefield, a longtime officer of about 15 years, said officers are usually CPR trained while at the police academy.

"It sounds like we did a good thing that day," he said of the incident. Evans could not immediately be reached for comment because he was out of town for department related training.