LMPD officer delivers baby near downtown Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY - Officer Elisha Thompson was patrolling in the Louisville Metro Police’s First Division when a woman in a car began waving and screaming.

“She said, ‘She’s having a baby,'" Thompson said. "So I pull to the side of the road, open the car door and there’s a partial head sticking out, and we just went from there and just pushed, and there came the joy of life."

Thompson said it only took 14 minutes. There was no time for an escort to the hospital.

“I was like, 'It's already coming, I got to do something,'" Thompson said. "I put some gloves on, I cradled the head and out it came."

Thompson said she doesn’t have any kids of her own, adding that she only has basic CPR knowledge, but Monday, her fight-or-flight instincts kicked in on 18th and Broadway.

"It's something with being a police officer," Thompson said. "Some people react, some people don't react. I react well to situations and I go with the flow. Once the head comes out, you got to get the rest of it out, so let's get it going."

Thompson added that it's her job as an officer to help. But maybe she has one small request.