Photo Courtesy of Tampa Police Department
Four Tampa police officers were honored for saving a baby from overheating in a stolen car.
On Thursday, a ceremony was held where officers Steven Zawacki, Martin Pollak, Anthony Hardesty, and Landon Harsin were each presented a Life Saving Award. The quarterly ceremony is held four times a year and recognizes employees for their service and exemplary performance.
According to a press release from the department, the incident occurred
last August.“The officers responded to an apartment complex on the 2500 block of Siesta Court where a woman’s vehicle was reported stolen,” the release said. “The woman advised officers that she exited her car briefly, leaving her 11-month-old baby inside the vehicle, and returned to find her 2011 Kia Optima had been stolen.”
The release continued, “About half an hour later, an officer spotted the victim’s vehicle abandoned approximately half a mile away at the intersection of N Jamaica Street and W Wilder Avenue on the other side of a six-foot chain-link fence. The officers found the baby overheated and lethargic inside the abandoned vehicle, which had been turned off.”
“They quickly took the baby to a patrol car and began placing cool compresses on the baby’s head and body to help cool her down,” the release said. “The baby was eventually transported to a local hospital, where she was treated and reunited with her mother and made a full recovery.”
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The Tampa Police Department praised the officers for their quick thinking and bravery. These officers exemplify the best of what it means to be a police officer, and their actions are a testament to their dedication and bravery.
Alongside the Life-Saving Award, officers were also recognized at the ceremony with Excellent Duty Awards and Citizen Appreciation Awards.
The heartwarming rescue was captured on surveillance and body-worn cameras. You can watch the video below: