NYPD Rookie Saves 2nd Choking Child in Just Weeks

When Officer Freddy Cerpa responded to a 911 call on January 16, he had no idea he was about to become a hero for the second time in just weeks.

The rookie NYPD officer and his partner, Officer Megan Ficken, rushed to a Bronx apartment where a 2-year-old boy lay unconscious and choking. Bodycam footage shows the tense moments as the officers worked quickly to clear the child's airway, blocked by mucus.

Within moments, the boy showed signs of life. He was taken to Jacobi Hospital as a precaution and is doing well, police confirmed.

What makes this rescue even more remarkable is the timing. Just weeks earlier in December, Cerpa helped save a 1-year-old girl who was also choking.

Cerpa credits his partner Ficken with the latest rescue, showing the humility that defines New York's Finest. "The first one was definitely surreal," he told local news. "But in my opinion, this one is all Officer Ficken, and she was there first. I was just glad I was able to assist her."

Why This Inspires

Cerpa's back-to-back rescues remind us that heroes walk among us every day, ready to act when seconds separate tragedy from triumph. His first rescue in December became invaluable training that helped him stay calm under pressure during the second call.

The New York City Police Foundation captured it perfectly: these officers prove that when seconds matter most, they're always ready. For two families in the Bronx, that readiness meant everything.

Both children are home safe with their families today, and Cerpa continues his rookie year with the NYPD, humble about his heroic actions. His story shows that the right training, quick thinking, and genuine care for the community can turn ordinary shifts into extraordinary moments of hope.

Two babies are breathing easy tonight because two officers refused to give up.