Soundview, Bronx, New York – NYPD Officer Freddy Cerpa once again proved his quick thinking can save lives, rescuing a 2-year-old boy who had stopped breathing during a choking incident on January 16, 2026.

Cerpa, who had revived his neighbor’s 1-year-old daughter just weeks earlier, raced three blocks to assist fellow officers after a 911 call. Body camera footage shows the tense moments as he administered back slaps, eventually reviving the boy who had become unconscious.

“Officer Ficken was already giving back slaps. I kind of used my past experience from a month ago to try to kind of give her an idea of what I did last time,” Cerpa said.

Officer Megan Ficken, a mother of two, was among the first responders and credited the NYPD training that guided both officers through the high-pressure situation. “You want everything to work out perfect. It amps the intensity, the urgency and the understanding of how impactful this situation is for parents,” Ficken said.

The boy, who had been choking on mucus, was transported to Jacobi Hospital and is reported to be doing well.

Despite saving two young children in such a short period, Cerpa remains modest about his heroics. “The first one was definitely surreal. But in my opinion, this one is all Officer Ficken and she was there first. I was just glad I was able to assist her,” he said.

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