NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A New Mexico State Police officer who saved a baby’s life is being considered for a national award.
On July 24, 2023, Officer Ismael Perez responded to an emergency call regarding a mother in distress who had given birth on the way to the hospital. After arriving at the hospital, Officer Perez went up to a vehicle and saw the baby was unresponsive and still attached to the umbilical cord. Officer Perez provided medical aid until the baby’s cries could be heard, NMSP said.
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Hospital staff arrived and provided further medical care to the mother and what later came to be learned, a healthy baby boy.
Because of his actions, Perez has been nominated for the 2025 Axon RISE Award. The award celebrates “acts of compassion and bravery that often go unnoticed but can leave a lasting impact on communities.”
Community voting for this award will take place Jan. 13-27. The top 10 finalists with the most votes in each category will then be reviewed by a panel of judges and the winners will be selected in February and celebrated at Axon Week in Phoenix, Arizona.