WEBSTER, MASS. — A Webster police officer and local EMS personnel were recognized with a Team Excellence and Merit (TEAM) Award for their swift and coordinated response during an at-home childbirth earlier this year, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. announced Tuesday.
Officer Melissa Bak, along with Lt. Austin Bacigalupo, Paramedics Cassandra Pires, Errol Defreitas, Andrew Godfrin, and Dispatcher Rebecca Prefontaine, were honored for their roles in safely delivering a baby and stabilizing both mother and newborn during the March 19 emergency.
At approximately 4:07 p.m. that day, Dispatcher Prefontaine received a 911 call from a man reporting that his 36-year-old wife was in active labor at home. Prefontaine dispatched emergency personnel and gave immediate guidance to the caller.
Officer Bak, responding while already on another call, was the first to arrive and found the baby already crowning. She successfully delivered the child within a minute of arrival.
Webster EMS then arrived to provide medical support and transported both mother and baby to a local hospital. The pregnancy was considered high-risk, and the timely response was critical to ensuring a safe outcome.
“In medical emergencies like this, every second counts,” said DA Early. “Officer Bak demonstrated great urgency and professionalism.”
The TEAM Award, established in 2019, honors public safety personnel for outstanding service and teamwork.
A Webster officer and paramedics were honored for their rapid response and delivery of a baby during a high-risk home birth.
