Frantic waves lead CMPD officer to back seat of a car where woman agonized in labor
An off-duty Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was directing traffic at a school when someone frantically waved at her for help, the department posted on Facebook Saturday.
Officer M. Brennan — CMPD didn’t release her first name — ran to the person trying to flag her down.
That’s when Brennan saw a woman in labor in the back seat of a car.
“Officer Brennan immediately sprang into action putting on gloves and instructed the mother-to-be to push,” according to the Facebook post. “After one push the baby arrived.”
Brennan wrapped the newborn in a blanket and placed the baby on the mother’s chest “for skin-to-skin contact,” CMPD said. “The baby let out a cry.”
Medic and Charlotte firefighters soon arrived to assist the mom and her baby.
CMPD said Brennan “is being hailed a hero” for safely delivering the baby.
The officer was directing traffic just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Sugar Creek Charter School when she saw the frantic waver. The school is on North Tryon Street at Sugar Creek Road in northeast Charlotte.
“I am a mother,” Brennan “humbly” replied when fellow officers interviewed her, according to the CMPD post. “I have children, too. I am glad I was there at the right time to help.”
On Facebook, Medic posted: “We are super proud of her. Maybe she wants to work for us part-time.”
Accolades also poured in on Facebook from dozens of residents.
“What a beautiful act of love!” a woman wrote.
“This story made me tear up!” posted another woman.
“The kind of Officer I would want close by if I was in same situation,” a third woman said.
CMPD’s reaction?
“Officer M. Brennan we salute you!” the department posted.
This story was originally published March 26, 2022 at 12:09 PM.