Las Vegas police officer honored for saving baby's life at Aviators game
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — On Wednesday afternoon, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department gathered to honor heroes who don't just wear the badge, but embody its promise to protect and serve in extraordinary ways.
Applause filled the room as Officer Jason Rich stood among his peers, humbled and smiling alongside his six daughters.
'For his quick actions, the lifesaving award goes to Officer Jason Rich,' the announcer said.
It was a moment of recognition for a night Officer Rich will never forget.
Last June, Rich was working overtime at a Las Vegas Aviators game when he heard screams echoing from Pavilion Center Drive.
'I was working the crosswalk and remember standing there and hearing screaming down Pavilion Center,' he recalled.
He turned to find a mother standing in the road, frozen with fear, holding her baby in her arms.
'I ran over to her. As I'm getting closer, I realize the baby has blood running down her mouth, down her shirt,' Rich said. 'I'm thinking, 'Baby's not crying, baby's not blue, so what's going on?''
The woman did not speak English. She tried frantically to explain—but there was no time for words. Without hesitation, Rich jumped into action.
'I flipped her over, started patting her on the back, trying to calm her. The mom is yelling and screaming,' he said. 'I kept patting her, and a couple [of] minutes later, we realized she had taken a barrette from her hair and put it in her mouth. It popped open.'
Another officer arrived just in time to assist.
'As I'm laying her down, we could finally see the barrette,' Rich said. 'Eventually, I hit her again—and he caught the barrette as it fell out.'
Thanks to Rich's fast thinking and calm under pressure, the baby is alive and well today.
When Officer Rich accepted his award, he wasn't alone. His six young daughters walked on stage beside him—a beautiful and emotional reminder of the lives officers are sworn to protect, both at home and on duty.
'This is just a small snapshot of what everyone is doing,' Rich said. 'Of what all the officers are doing out there every day.'
Rich was one of dozens of officers honored for heroic actions, from preventing a suicide attempt at Harry Reid International Airport to unraveling a complex murder-for-hire case.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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