Crime & Safety
Police Dispatcher Helps Boy, 12, Deliver Aunt's Baby On LI: Police
"It's incredible," said Southampton Town Police Public Safety Dispatcher Christopher Brenner. "What a great day for me."
![Southampton Town Police Public Safety Dispatcher Christopher Brenner gave the boy instructions on how to help his aunt, who was giving birth.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/1296254/20240802/040037/styles/patch_image/public/brenner-at-console___02155636578.jpg)
FLANDERS, NY — A 12-year-old boy delivered his aunt's baby Friday in Flanders — with the help of a dedicated police dispatcher, authorities said.
According to Southampton Town police, the incident took place at about 10:16 AM; authorities received a 911 call from the boy, who said his aunt, 22, was in labor.
Southampton Town Police Public Safety Dispatcher Christopher Brenner immediately began giving the boy clear instructions on how to help his aunt with the childbirth, authorities said.
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While on the phone with PSD Brenner giving birthing/medical instructions, and the "cool-headed actions of a 12-year-old child", the mother successfully delivered a healthy baby boy, police said.
Just as the baby was being born, Southampton Town Police Officer James C. Cavanagh arrived and assisted with the care of the mother and child, police said.
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Shortly thereafter, Flanders Northampton Volunteer ambulance arrived, took over care of the mother and child, and transported them to Peconic Bay Medical Center, police said.
"Thanks to professionalism and diligence of all involved, both mother and child are resting and healthy at the hospital," police said.
Brenner reflected on the experience: "It's incredible," said Southampton Town Police Public Safety Dispatcher Christopher Brenner. "What a great day for me."
He added, "I'm amazed how the 12-year-old boy did such a great job."
It was an experience Brenner said will stay with him forever.
"It was one of the most rewarding calls I have taken over the 31 years that I have been there," he said. "While I was taking the call, the other dispatchers that I was working with relayed all the information out to the responding units. They, too, deserve a lot of credit. It was a team effort."
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