Police Officer Saves Toddler's Life On His First Day On The Job

January 15, 2018

officer saves baby choking first day on job
Melanie Hasse / Officer Richard Mayer

Hobart Police Officer Richard Mayer was dining at a fast food restaurant in Merrillville, Indiana, during his first day on the job when a mother rushed to his table for help.

Melanie Hasse and her daughter, Charlotte, were just a few tables away from Officer Mayer and his colleagues eating lunch when Charlotte started to choke on an apple.

"I looked over and she started gagging. I could see something kind of in the back of her throat, mistakenly reached in to try to grab it out, I think that pushed it back into her throat," Hasse recalled.

Mayer rushed into action with another officer. Together they flipped the toddler over and began slapping her on the back.

"I grabbed her and Officer Ramos to my right flipped her over, we did back slaps on her and got food dislodged from her throat right away," Mayer said.

Mayer revealed saving the toddler was his first act as a paid police officer.