NYPD officer helped deliver a baby after labor began on the street — she later honored him through her daughter’s name

30-year-old NYPD Officer Roddmy Remy had been stationed on a New York City street to dissuade violence and crime. On this particular day, however, he got assigned a task that was completely outside the scope of his job description. As per the NYPD's post on Facebook shared by Eyewitness News ABC7NY, Officer Remy helped a woman named Kashanna Legette deliver her baby on a sidewalk and even wrapped the baby girl in his jacket until the ambulance arrived. When he returned to the hospital room to collect the jacket, he was in for a surprise. The 22-year-old mother told him the name she had decided for the baby girl, a name that was dedicated to him, as she reported to TODAY.

It all began when Bronx resident Legette, who was 38 weeks pregnant, was napping in her apartment and suddenly her water broke. She realized that the baby had decided to come into the world sooner than she had expected. But the moment she left the building, the pain became so intense that she knew there wasn’t any time to reach the hospital. "I was like, I have to go downstairs. I have to go downstairs to try to get to the hospital. Then I didn't make it to the hospital," Legette said.

Her sister, who had been walking alongside, started looking hither and thither for help when she spotted a police cruiser at a distance. Officer Remy found himself feeling blessed as he had no choice but to intervene and help her deliver the baby. Other officers from the NYPD's 42nd Precinct squad also helped. 

"I asked to see how far apart mom's contractions were — and that's when I knew the baby was coming," said NYPD Officer Katerin Villar. Soon-to-be a father himself, Officer Keanu Phillip was even more excited to lend his hand through the process. “We did see a video in the academy, but we were told that it’s rare,” he said.

One officer held her hand, one stroked her head, one kept on telling her to breathe, and the other told her to push. Meanwhile, neighbors began leaning out of their windows, and cars stopped around the sidewalk. The couch might not have been the most ideal choice for the delivery, but Legette said it was “either that or on the ground.” Once the first cry of the baby erupted from the corner, people gathered there started calling out, "Congratulations!"

“I’m like ‘Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Is this really happening right now?’ I was so embarrassed,” she recalled.

Moments like these show compassion and service can define law enforcement just as much as duty. In fact, a Gallup analysis shows that 78% of people who report a positive interaction with police say they have confidence in law enforcement, compared to 26% among those who’ve had negative encounters. The study also notes that these experiences not only influence opinions in the moment but can shape long-term attitudes toward safety, cooperation, and willingness to engage with police in the future.

There weren’t any covers or something with which they could wrap the 7-pound, 11-ounce girl. That’s when Officer Remy pulled off his jacket to swaddle the baby. “I was so relieved,” Legette said, adding that the whole experience drastically shifted her perception towards the NYPD and its officers. This was probably the first time Officer Remy got a chance to welcome a new life. So, when he walked inside the hospital room and Legette shared the name she had given to the baby, he couldn’t help but feel what saints call love. “I was like, can I take a picture with you because this was probably the coolest thing that's going to happen in my career,” he recalled.

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