ORANGE, Calif. — Corporal Greggory Cates of the Orange Police Department was awarded the department’s Life Saving Medal after saving a 7-month-old girl who was choking on a hair clip in a rescue captured on bodycam footage, according to reports from ABC7 and NBC Los Angeles.

On January 19, 2026, Cates was on patrol when a frantic mother called 911, reporting that her baby was unable to breathe. Cates arrived first on scene and encountered the mother running into the street with the infant in her arms.

“When I got there, the mom was running out to the street because her baby was choking on a hair clip. It was pretty intense, just the situation. And mom handed me the baby,” Cates said, according to ABC7.

Bodycam footage shows the mother crying out in agony as Cates immediately begins performing the Heimlich maneuver on the 7-month-old. After several back blows, the baby let out a cry — a sign she was breathing again.

“It was a moment. Just a big deep breath. Just like, ‘Thank God, OK, we’re good, she’s breathing,’” Cates recalled. “I’m thankful that I could have been there to help her.”

The baby was taken to a hospital as a precaution, and Cates accompanied the family. He said the incident continues to replay in his mind.

“It relives in my mind, just seeing the video brings it back. I do tear up sometimes,” he told NBC Los Angeles.

Cates, a parent himself, said the mother’s fear stayed with him. “I’m a parent, too, so I’ve not necessarily been in that situation before, but mom needed help,” he said.

Life Saving Medal recognition

The City of Orange recognized Cates for his actions during a city council meeting, awarding him the Life Saving Medal. Cates was reunited with the baby and her parents during the ceremony.

“She looked happy and healthy,” Cates said of the baby. “I feel like there was maybe a little bit of recognition. She kind of locked eyes on me, like, ‘Hey, I think I know you.’”

Cates said he appreciates the honor, but emphasized that his role is about service.

“It’s very nice to be recognized, but at the same time, it’s not something that we’re looking for. We were just there to try and help people,” Cates said.

Why this story matters

This rescue highlights the split-second decisions officers make during medical emergencies — especially those involving infants and children. Cates’ training and composure under pressure directly contributed to saving a baby’s life.

Note: The infant and family have not been named publicly. ThinBlueNews is not identifying any private individuals involved in this call beyond the officer named in official reports.

Sources reviewed

Editorial note: ThinBlueNews used a real ABC7 bodycam still from the Orange Police Department incident. No staged, AI-generated, or fictional rescue imagery was used. The infant and family remain anonymous. Bodycam footage of the rescue was publicly released and cited by all three news sources.