Fairfield Police & EMS Make a Special Delivery

Fairfield (NJ) On Sunday June 9, 2025, at a little after 12 PM, members of Atlantic Healthcare ambulance EMS-7, medics from Medic 4 and Fairfield Officers Vincent Purcell and Frank Patierno assisted with a special delivery, the birth of Sebastian, a new baby boy.

At approximately 11:42 AM, officers and EMS were dispatched to the parking lot of Lumis restaurant, located at 4 Little Falls Road, on a report of a female who had gone into labor. Sebastian’s parents, who are from Denville, had just left the West Essex Diner when his mother began to go into labor. They pulled into the parking lot of the Lumis restaurant and called 9-1-1 and awaited assistance from responding police and EMS.

Both mother and father were placed into the back of the ambulance, along with Officer Purcell and were in route to Chilton Hospital when, in Lincoln Park, it became apparent that Sebastian was not going to wait until their arrival at the hospital. The baby was crowning, and the delivery was imminent. The ambulance pulled over and Officer Purcell, EMS personnel and medics from Chilton Hospital delivered Sebastian while the ambulance was parked on the side of the road. All were then transported to Chilton Hospital, where in the last report, everyone was doing well.

“Very often, because of the nature of our work, police officers as first responders experience what it is like to save the lives of victims that we are called to assist. But every so often, officers experience the absolute joy it is to bring a life into the world as was the case for Officer Purcell and Officer Patierno and all of the EMS personnel who had that opportunity presented to them yesterday. They did a terrific job” said Chief Anthony G. Manna.

Officer Purcell, who is an Emergency Medical Technician, and a member of the department’s Emergency Services Unit stated, “It has always been a goal of mine since becoming an EMT to deliver a baby. Thanks to Sebastian, he made me realize this goal.”

Authorized by: Chief Anthony Manna