The Shelter Island Police Department 2020 Officer of the Year is Andrew Graffagnino, selected for his overall record including his role in saving the life of week-old baby, Police Chief James J. Read announced Tuesday.
“After careful consideration, input from several officers and a review of departmental records, calls and statistics, Police Officer Graffagnino was selected for this award for his overall job performance for the year 2020,” Read said in an announcement.
“PO Graffagnino should be the ‘Standard in Policing’ as he handles every assignment and call with a courteous and exceptionally positive attitude that has been noted by many thank you’s from the community.”
Chief Read included the following account of “a noteworthy life-saving effort” that supports Graffagnino’s recognition for the annual award:
“In the early morning hours on September 12, 2020, Police Officers David McGayhey and Andrew Graffagnino responded to a call of a newborn experiencing severe difficulty breathing. Upon arrival, the first-time parents of the 7-day-old infant were very upset, distraught and obviously not knowing what to do because the infant was having significant trouble breathing.”
Officer Graffagnino recognized that the baby was limp and discolored. “While utilizing his infant CPR training, he performed several back slaps followed by suctioning of the infant’s nose and mouth, resulting in released mucus and partially clearing an obstructed airway.”
“Officer Graffagnino then continued to suction and perform back slaps as needed due to constant congestion/mucus build up, until EMS responded and transported the infant and her mother to Southampton Hospital.”
“Several days later, Officer Graffagnino reached out to the father to check on the infant, and was repeatedly thanked and told that she was transported to multiple hospitals, but was expected to make a full recovery.”
“If not for the quick thinking and decisive actions of Officer Graffagnino, the infant may have lost her life that evening. Officer McGayhey noted, ‘I believe that if Officer Graffagnino did not take this action, the outcome would have been different.'”
As Chief Read put it in his statement: “Congratulations to Officer Graffagnino on a job well done.”
