WARREN Police officer makes a special delivery
The woman said she woke up around 3:15 a.m. realizing that her third child was on the way.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- No bones about it, the city's midnight shift K-9 police officer knows how to deliver babies.
Today's early-morning delivery was the 12th for Wayne Mackey, a former paramedic.
"I'm glad I was able to help," he said. "When we got the call, I wasn't sure how far along the mother was, but when I got there, she was ready to deliver."
Nicole Rafferty of Stewart N.W. said she woke up around 3:15 a.m. realizing her third child was about to be born.
"My boyfriend was trying to get me to leave so we could go to the hospital but I told him to call 911 -- I wasn't going anywhere," Rafferty said from her hospital bed.
She noted she was "a bit surprised" when police -- not ambulance workers -- showed up in her bathroom.
"I guess I was probably shocked and one of the officers told me not to push but it was too late for that," Rafferty said, laughing. "My boyfriend was freaked out."
Baby boy
It wasn't long after Mackey and fellow patrol officers Brian Martinek and Jason McCollum got to the house when Rafferty's son was born.
Her other sons are 13 and 3.
"Helping deliver a baby never gets routine," Mackey said. "It was such a thrill to hold the baby. I'm so glad everyone is OK."
Moments after the baby was born, an ambulance crew arrived and took mom and baby to a Warren hospital.
The boy, who was due next week, weighed in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces and is doing well, Rafferty said, from Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
"I haven't picked out a name yet," she said. "We will probably decide a little later today."
sinkovich@vindy.com