Brookhaven police are trained to respond to medical emergencies, but not obstetrics, police say.
Lt. Jeff Vanaman arrived with another officer to a woman’s home, where she had a baby boy, whom she named Mateo Alexander Bibiano, with the Brookhaven officers’ help, at about 9:45 p.m.
“Police officers are not generally trained with [helping] women in labor. We are trained in providing CPR, AED and in the use of NARCAN for opiates overdoses, said Officer Carlos Nino, a spokesman for Brookhaven police. “This is a first time for us.”
The first Brookhaven Police Department Facebook post about the home delivery appeared at about 8 a.m. on Nov. 17, announcing the mother and the baby were fine and sharing the story of how the officers went from the delivery to a burglary in progress at about 10 p.m. Nov. 16.
“Thanks to two 911 callers with great descriptions, a perimeter was quickly established,” Brookhaven police officers posted on the department’s Facebook Page. “Officers quickly located the offender in the woods and a foot chase ensued. But two blocks and a fence couldn’t stop Officer DiCicco, who took the burglar into custody less than 10 minutes after the call was received. It was later determined he is wanted by Fulton County for burglary there, as well. Outstanding job by all the officers involved!!”
But the story continued when Vanaman shared his perspective on law enforcement just shy of 24 hours after it all happened.
Vanaman titled his Facebook post “inside the mind of babies and burglars,” and he philosophized that the similarity comes in his personal approach to the job.
He said he does his job to serve the residents, from the mother in labor to the man whose property he helped protect.
“You see it’s not Power, it’s not Prejudice, and it’s not Pride,” Vanaman wrote. “It comes from a place of true humility. It is hard for us sometimes as our individual voices seldom are able to be heard.”
The officer said he shared on Facebook to say thank you to the department that allows him to do his job.
Thank you, Lt. Vanaman for your “day in the life of a Brookhaven officer”. We value our outstanding police force and your leader, Chief Yandura for your hard work, bravery and innovation.