Knoxville Police Department officers Clayton McWilliams and Veronica Jackson are being praised for saving a one-month-old baby’s life after the infant suddenly stopped breathing.
The emergency unfolded Wednesday night when the two officers responded to a frantic call about an unresponsive newborn. Bodycam footage released by the department shows a crying woman holding the infant and immediately handing the baby to McWilliams and Jackson while wailing, “Help, please!”
The officers quickly cleared the newborn’s airway by massaging its back. The baby then started crying in McWilliams’ arms, prompting relieved reactions from loved ones gathered at the scene. The collective sigh of relief from those present marked a dramatic turnaround in the tense situation.
“We are grateful to Officers McWilliams and Jackson for their decisive actions and composure when it mattered most,” Knoxville police wrote in a Facebook and Instagram post on Friday. The department shared the bodycam footage across its social media platforms to highlight the officers’ quick response.
The post drew an outpouring of supportive comments from community members. “People seem to forget that police officers save 100s of lives a day,” one person wrote on the department’s Facebook page.
“God bless these officers. Imagine there are people out in the world that think we should defund the police,” another commenter added on the same post.
The incident showcases the emergency medical training that Knoxville officers receive for critical situations involving infants and children. Clearing an airway through back massage is a standard technique for responding to breathing emergencies in newborns.
Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel, who was sworn in as the city’s 27th police chief on June 13, 2022, has emphasized community-focused policing during his tenure. Prior to leading KPD, Noel spent over 25 years at the New Orleans Police Department in numerous leadership roles.
The department regularly responds to emergency medical calls alongside fire and EMS personnel throughout the East Tennessee city. This rescue comes as police departments nationwide face scrutiny over use of force incidents, making community-positive stories particularly resonant with local residents.
Knoxville police have not released additional details about the infant’s current condition or the identity of the family involved, citing privacy considerations. The department typically withholds identifying information in cases involving juveniles and medical emergencies.