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Constables Kenique James and Hackeem Collier have been police officers for several years, and have played the role of counsellor, mediator and mentor in the St Andrew South Police Division.

But delivering a baby had never crossed their minds. Last Thursday, James and Collier, who are stationed at the Olympic Gardens Police Station in St Andrew, assisted in the birth of a baby boy. They were about to have their lunch when they heard a call on the police emergency line giving the assignment to another team.

"They said a female was in labour and needed the assistance of the police but it appeared that the other unit was not close to the radio so we answered and told them that we would go to the location in the West Bay Farm area. We had to use the siren and horn to find the location because the numbering wasn't really in tact. When we found the house, the babyfather ran out and said 'a right here so officer'," James said.

He said that when he and his colleague rushed inside, the baby's head was already crowning and they knew instantly that it was too late to transport the mother and child to the hospital.

"I told myself that if we just save one life, we were going to do it. The mother was in full labour so you know she was feeling a lot of pain and I don't know what came over me but I was saying 'Push mommy, push, please push'. There was a lady from next door helping us and she too was telling the mother to push. The officer and I help with the pulling out of the child and we turn the baby on his side and he coughed up some fluid and begin crying and I knew it was a good sign," he said.

The constables said that they tried unsuccessfully to get an ambulance to rush the mother and child to the hospital so they decided to transport them in the service vehicle.

"Mr Collier and the baby's father spread some sheets in the back of the vehicle after we partially sanitised it and we placed mother and child in and transported them to Jubilee [Victoria Jubilee Hospital]. We had to be very careful so we could not drive fast and we took them safely to the hospital and the staff told us that the mother and baby were doing well," James said.

"It was a bit nerve wrecking because you just don't want to do anything wrong. When I realised that it went well I just had to give the Lord thanks especially when we handed her over to medical personnel who confirmed that they were good. I was very happy. We went back to the house to check on the father the evening but he had gone back to the hospital when we got there," Collier added. James, 31, who is a father, said that when reality hit, he realised that he helped a baby to be born.

"I started to wonder what if something had gone wrong but after everything is said and done and I find out that the mother and baby is okay, I pat myself on the shoulder and said well done. Sometimes we will have to take on duties that training school did not prepare you for so you just have to take on the persona of what is placed in front of you," James said.

The cops said they will be visiting the newborn and his parents this week.