Stafford Twp., NJ, Police Officers Praised After Saving Choking Baby

Stafford Township, N.J. — Two police officers in Ocean County are being hailed as heroes for saving the life of an infant earlier this spring.

The Stafford Township Police Department said on the afternoon of March 17th, its officers were called to a home in Beach Haven West for a report of a 10-month-old infant who was choking.

Plastic Easter Egg Blocked Baby's Airway

According to officials,

SMPO Adam Sherer arrived first on scene, quickly assessed the situation, and helped stabilize baby Jack Ferrante, who had a large plastic Easter egg lodged in his mouth, obstructing his airway. Officer Brandon Haines arrived shortly after and safely dislodged the object from Jack's mouth, clearing his airway and preventing what could have been a tragic outcome.

At the time of the call, Ofc. Haines was assigned to a nearby roadwork safety post. The department said his quick decision to immediately leave that post and respond without hesitation made all the difference.

"He is my hero."

In a social media post, Jack's grandmother, Dawn Papatheodorou, who was babysitting at the time, described Ofc. Haines as quick to respond, extremely professional, and very sweet, saying, "He is my hero. Not only does STPD protect our community and fight crime, they were there when my grandson needed them most — and they saved his life."

Officer Nominated for Life-saving Award

Ofc. Haines has been nominated for a life-saving award for his actions that day.

The department said in a Facebook post, "We are incredibly proud of Officer Haines and SMPO Sherer for their professionalism, urgency, and compassion during a terrifying moment for this family."

From all of us at the Stafford Township Police Department, we are grateful that Jack is safe, and we are honored to serve a community that trusts us in its most critical moments. Congratulations to Officer Haines and SMPO Sherer on a job well done.

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com