GRANITE SHOALS, TX — A Granite Shoals Police Officer helped a couple whose baby was born on the side of the highway this week.
On June 18, Granite Shoals Police Officer Shane Mahoney was in his patrol vehicle heading to the DPS Crime Lab in Austin.
Mahoney heard communications put out an EMS call in the 3900 block of Hwy 281, north of Marble Falls, for a pregnancy where information was advised that “the baby was out."
Granite Shoals Police Department says Mahoney just happened to be passing the vehicle that had stopped to call 911.
There was a male on the side of the road waving at Mahoney to stop, the officer says.
Officer Mahoney stopped and discovered three passengers and a newborn in the vehicle, as they did not quite make it to the Baylor Scott & White Marble Falls hospital in time.
One of the occupants of the vehicle had already begun covering the baby to keep warm as Mahoney walked up.
Mahoney, about to be a new parent himself this coming October, says he obtained a shoestring from the passenger and tied off the umbilical cord.
As Mahoney was completing this task, Marble Falls Police, Marble Falls Fire Rescue, and Marble Falls Area EMS units arrived.
Mahoney transferred care to the Fire and EMS personnel and returned to his patrol vehicle and resumed his trip to Austin.
It was not until his next shift on the night of the 19th that Mahoney mentioned the events from the morning before to his supervisor.
Granite Shoals Sgt. John Ortis advised Capt. Chris Decker and Chief Gary Boshears of Mahoney’s actions and Sgt. Ortis presented Mahoney with a Department Challenge Coin for his actions that exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the GSPD.
“Actions of our officers are what make the difference in our community and are examples of professional law enforcement that are currently not making headlines,” stated Chief Boshears.
Captain Decker added, “Each of us pride ourselves in the oath we took to be defenders of the Texas and US Constitution, but also guardians of the public, coming to their aid no matter when, or in this case, where help is needed”.
