Off-duty San Francisco police recruit rescues 2-month-old at mall

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - An off-duty San Francisco police recruit is being praised for helping to save the life of a two-month-old who stopped breathing outside an East Bay mall.

San Francisco police say recruit Officer Ricky Williams was in the parking lot of the Bayfair Mall in San Leandro on Sunday, Dec. 13 when he noticed a mother who was hysterical, holding a baby in her arms.

Police say Williams approached the mother who told him that her newborn was not breathing and had turned blue.

The recruit officer immediately began CPR chest compressions while the mother assisted.

After a few cycles of CPR, the baby finally started showing signs of life and began crying, according to police.

San Leandro police and paramedics arrived a short time later. Emergency crews rushed the infant to Children’s Hospital in Oakland for further treatment.

“Recruit Officer Williams’ immediate response is exactly what I expect from our officers and those training to become San Francisco’s finest,"  Chief Greg Suhr said in a statement on Monday.

"Recruit Williams applied his training and his prompt action helped save this infant’s life. It is our sworn duty to help people. Clearly we chose wisely in hiring Recruit Officer Williams. His conduct exemplified the best in all of us,” said Suhr.

Williams is a member of the 247th Academy Class and is scheduled to graduate in January. He said he didn't want to be called a hero and that he was just doing what he was trained to do. 

There were no updates on the infants condition.