HPD recognized at 2024 Mississippi Public Safety Summit for saving baby’s life

From Hattiesburg Police Department Public Information Office

FLOWOOD, Miss. (WDAM) – A Hattiesburg police officer was recognized for saving a baby’s life and honored Wednesday at the 2024 Mississippi Public Safety Summit.

Hattiesburg Police Department Lt. Joe Kennedy was one of two law enforcement officers to receive recognition with a “First Responder of the Year Award.”

Kennedy was recognized for his life-saving emergency medical care to a baby at a restaurant in Petal on Jan. 23, 2023.

Gov. Tate Reeves, Attorney General Lynn Fitch, and Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Sean Tindell presented this year’s Governor’s Public Safety Awards.

The Public Safety Awards recognize those who were outstanding in their efforts to serve and protect residents across the state.

Kennedy and Flowood Police Department Officer Will Brantley were both designated as First Responder of the Year.

Brantley came to the aid of a choking baby while on shift in his patrol car on Oct. 6, 2023.

“Let me say this as clearly as possible,” Reeves said. “Lt. Kennedy and Officer Brantley are both heroes. Their actions saved the lives of two babies.

I’m incredibly thankful that God placed good men such as Lt. Kennedy and Officer Brantley in the right place at the right time. Their actions forever changed the lives of those children, as well as their families. That will never be forgotten, and our entire state is grateful to them.”

The winners of the safety awards are selected by Reeves based on candidate nominations by their peers in the public safety realm.

Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Copyright 2024 WDAM. All rights reserved.