A Newark police officer is being hailed as a hero for saving the life of a choking baby.

Sgt. J. Cosme was working along Second Street and Sussex Avenue last Friday morning when he heard a man screaming for help. The man told Cosme his 1-year-old baby was choking on a peppermint candy.

Cosme performed the Heimlich maneuver and was able to get the baby to start breathing again.

The child was taken to University Hospital and is in stable condition.

Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda says that Cosme’s actions are the type of “exemplary police service that lets our residents and visitors know that they can count on Newark Police when facing challenging and unpredictable situations.”