When Madisonville Police Department Officer James Nixon went on duty late Sunday, April 2, he didn’t dream his shift would end by helping bring a new life into the world.
But it did, as Nixon helped 18-year-old Veronica Elliott of Madisonville give birth to her son, Alonzo Childress, early Monday at a residence in the 100 block of Hope Circle. Also assisting with the delivery was Elliott's mother – and Childress’ grandmother – Shertie Archie.
"He was really excited, and proud that he was able to be there and help," said MPD Chief George Sweetin on Monday "Both the mother and the child are doing well, but I don’t think Officer Nixon will be able to go home and sleep just yet. He’s too wired up."
According to Nixon’s report, while out on patrol at 4:49 a.m. Monday morning, he heard the Madison County Sheriff’s Department dispatch an ambulance to Hope Circle in reference to a woman in labor. He went to the scene, and was met in the parking lot by Russell Doty a Madisonville Volunteer Fire Department firefighter.
According to the report, the ambulance had not yet arrived, and Doty said the baby was "coming now" The MVFD fire fighter then asked Nixon if he’d ever delivered a child before.
"I replied, ‘No, not yet!"’ Nixon wrote in his report.
After entering the Hope Circle residence, Nixon’s report said he observed the soon-to-be mother –Elliott – on the couch, and the crown of the baby’s head already out. A female subject asked what to do, so Nixon said, "Everything's going to be okay," and sent her after a towel, the report said.
While kneeling down to catch the baby, Nixon’s report said the infant "popped out onto the couch."
"I quickly caught the infant, and the new mother’s mother Sherrie Archie, assisted," Nixon wrote.
Approximate time of birth – 4:55 a.m. Monday or just six minutes after Nixon arrived.
The newborn was motionless and wasn’t breathing, the report said, so Nixon gently slapped the baby boy on the rear. The baby let out "a loud cry and began breathing," the MPD officer wrote.
As the umbilical cord broke, according
to the report, Archie held the child while Nixon attempted to tie it off.
Failing to do so, he pinched it and held it until the ambulance arrived.
Once the ambulance arrived, the new mother and her son were transported to the
Madison St. Joseph Health Center emergency room, the report said. Nixon followed
the ambulance there, just to make sure both were all right, he wrote.
"We’re really proud of Officer Nixon’s handling of the situation.
He really did an excellent job," Sweetin said.
The MPD chief said Nixon joined the local police department about four months ago from the Huntsville Police Department. He said Nixon has been a police officer for about two and a half years.
"I asked him (Nixon) if he’d thought a lot about having to deliver a child in the line of duty. He said it'd crossed his mind while in the academy but he never really thought he’d actually do it," Sweetin said.