Two police officers who saved a choking toddler have been honored as cops of the month by the 68th Precinct Community Council.
Police Officer Jeffrey Swain and Police Officer Michael Yanni rescued a two-year-old boy, when they responded to a radio call of a “child in distress” late last month, said Captain Jeffrey Schiff, the precinct’s commanding officer.
The officers were presented with the awards for “a job well done” during the community council’s April meeting, which was held at the stationhouse, 333 65th Street.
When the two officers arrived at the home, Schiff recounted, “They saw the mother on the floor with her child. The mother reported that the child was not breathing. They saw that the child was turning blue. With the help of the mother, they immediately turned the child over onto his stomach, and slapped his back repeatedly to dislodge the obstruction,” which turned out to have been a grape.
Subsequently, Schiff said, “The child was removed to Maimonides Hospital and was doing fine.”
Young Vito Gentile, the child the officers helped, and his parents, Vito and Linda, were on hand at the council meeting to add their thanks to the congratulations Swain and Yanni received.
