Officer delivers baby for woman at traffic stop

Troyano walked over to an SUV where the woman’s sister was in labor — the baby’s head crowning and ready for delivery. There was little time to think, and instinct kicked in.

“I didn’t have a lot of time to think about it,” said Troyano, 36. “It all happened really fast.”

At 6:41 p.m., Troyano delivered the 6-pound, 3-ounce baby girl, but the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. Troyano removed the cord, and the baby began coughing and breathing normally. Medics arrived at 6:45 p.m. to take the mother and child to a local hospital.

During police training, officers receive a brief overview of what they might need to know for medical assistance, but nothing to the extent of delivering a baby, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said.

Troyano has worked more than 11 years with the Arlington police and said his training as an emergency medical technician and volunteer firefighter in college helped prepare him. He had never received formal training to perform a delivery.

“It’s something that you only hear stories about happening,” he said.

While babies have to be delivered occasionally in cars when local mothers racing to the hospital get stuck in traffic, the Arlington County Police Department had never experienced an officer having to deliver a baby before, Sternbeck said.

“We’ve had some individuals who have been around for 40 years, and this is the first time they can recall an officer delivering a baby,” he said.

The mother gave her child the middle name Stephanie in honor of Troyano.

“It’s a really nice honor,” Troyano said. “They’re going to have quite the story to tell when she gets a little bit older.”

The mother and child are expected to be home soon and are reported as healthy.

“I’m glad they’re doing well,” Troyano said. “That was the priority the entire time.”

Sternbeck commended Troyano, saying he is respected throughout the force.

“He’s a great officer,” Sternbeck said. “He’s someone you can rely on.”