Law enforcement officers tend to get a bad rap. But during high-stakes situations, their quick reactions (with proper training) can make the difference between life and death. Recently, the heroic actions of a patrol officer saved the lives of two young children in Connecticut after their father allegedly attempted to drown them.
A West Haven Police Department officer found an SUV at Dawson Avenue Beach and heard screaming.
About 2:30 a.m. June 22, a West Haven Police Department officer saw an empty SUV at Dawson Avenue Beach, ABC News reported. The officer reportedly heard screaming from the water as he inspected the car. That’s when he encountered Romney Desronvil, 41, with two kids in the water.
When the police officer approached them, the man warned him to ‘stay back.’
“As the Officer approached he heard significant screaming taking place from the water,” read a statement from the West Haven Police Department shared via Facebook. “As he continued towards this commotion it was apparent an adult male and two small children were in the water. As the Officer entered the water the adult male continued to drift further away with the children all while screaming at the responding officers to ‘stay back.'”
Police acted quickly to rescue the children.
At that point, the officer determined that the man, later identified as Romney Desronvil, was trying to drown his kids.
“Officers immediately entered the water and were nearly 100 yards away from shore at this time,” the police statement read. “Other Officers on scene joined members of the West Shore Fire Department and entered the water utilizing the West Shore Fire boat.”
The original police officer “gain[ed] possession” of the children, both younger than 3, per ABC News, and other officers helped bring them to shore, where life-saving measures were provided. The kids were taken via ambulance to a hospital, where they remain in the intensive care unit.
Romney Desronvil was arrested and charged after he allegedly attempted to drown his kids.
Desronvil, who lives in Queens, New York, was arrested. He was charged with two counts each of attempted manslaughter and risk of injury, ABC News reported. The investigation is ongoing.
The West Haven Police Department praised the officers involved in the incident. “It is without a doubt the swift response by our patrol officers saved the lives of these children,” the department’s statement on Facebook added. “The communication and collaborative efforts made by the West Shore Fire Department and eventually the New Haven Police Department allowed for immediate medical aid and also the apprehension of Desronvil.”
In Facebook comments, community residents reacted to what happened.
Facebook commenters commended the department’s personnel for their swift action.
“Thank you for being in the right place at the right time had the officer not those kids would have a completely different ending,” one person wrote.
“Truly a heroic team effort by WHPD & WHFD to rescue those children,” someone else commented. “Imagine a lone officer, on the beach, in the dark confronting a man who is obviously in state of psychosis. you have no idea if he is armed. Children screaming and you enter the water. Heroes one and all. There but for the grace of God❤️.”