Posted on by Californiacontrarian

Me’Atia Sanderson

As usual on Sunday I write about someone who deserves our praise and admiration. 

From BlazeMedia:

On 11/22/22 Florida law enforcement released bodycam footage of an officer heroically and without hesitation jumping into a retention pond to rescue a drowning baby, even though she did not know how to swim. Officer Me’Atia Sanderson with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has been praised as a hero for risking her own life to save the infant.

Sanderson, who joined the force in March 2019, was the first officer to arrive at the scene on June 9, according to authorities.  The sheriff’s office released the officer’s bodycam footage for the first time earlier this week.

The footage captured the officer arriving at an apartment complex, exiting her vehicle, and sprinting toward the direction of the retention pond tucked behind the buildings. As she approached the pond, frantic bystanders alerted her that the child was still in the water.

‘He’s somewhere under there,’ said the woman, pointing to the pond.

Without hesitation, the officer jumped into the water to rescue the drowning infant. The camera was then fully submerged underwater for several moments while the officer rescued the baby.

Once the child was retrieved from the pond, the officer began CPR.

‘Come on, baby,’ Sanderson can be heard saying while performing life-saving measures on the infant.

Moments later, two more officers arrived at the scene and assisted Sanderson with the CPR.

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department wrote a letter recognizing Sanderson for her ‘quick and decisive decision to go into the retention pond.’

‘Her actions, while putting her own life at risk, undoubtedly saved the child’s life,’ the department noted.

How did the infant end up in the retention pond? I do not know, and neither did Officer Sanderson … she just instinctively acted, and is a true hero.

11/27/22

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