MANCHESTER, NJ – A Manchester Township police officer is being hailed as a hero today after being in the right place at the wrong time and immediately springing into action.
On July 14, 2021, Detective Richard Jupinka was on-duty eating lunch at the Café Napoli restaurant, located in the Manchester Plaza shopping center when he observed a young child choking, and unable to breathe.
Det. Jupinka realizing that the child’s life was in danger, immediately went to the child’s table as her uncle attempted the Heimlich Maneuver, unsuccessfully.
At that point, Det. Jupinka assumed care of the child and through the use of the Heimlich Maneuver, he was able to quickly clear the food obstruction from the child’s airway.
Once the obstruction was cleared, the child began breathing normally. The child’s family declined the need for medical attention and thanked the officer for his life-saving actions.
Upon learning of the incident, Chief Robert Dolan stated, “Thankfully, one of our officers was in the right place at the right time. Had he not been there, this incident could have ended much differently.”