A San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officer is receiving a special award next month for saving the life of a toddler in Logan Heights – a heroic act the girl’s mother will never forget.
In April 2015, Officer Robert Carlson responded to a 911 call involving an 18-month-old girl, Kendall Hidalgo, who was unconscious and not breathing.
Carlson arrived at the girl’s family home in Logan Heights almost immediately. The toddler was suffering from a violent seizure and had stopped breathing. Her face and lips were blue.
Carlson rendered first aid to the girl until paramedics arrived. Going above and beyond, the officer stayed with the family at the hospital until they knew Kendall would be okay.
Fast-forward one year later and Carlson has become a big part of the girl’s life – a life her mother says she owes to the officer.
“If it took him a minute more to get here, she wouldn't have been here now,” said Kendall’s mother, Jessica Salas. “I was really grateful that he helped her. He saved my baby.”
Salas said she still gets tearful when she thinks about that fateful day.
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Carlson said he’s very glad he was able to help.
“I think it really makes you appreciate life. You don't take anything for granted. Whether it be at work or at home. Every little thing is precious,” he said.
Today, Carlson visits Kendall regularly, sometimes bearing gifts that come from a collective donation or the community.
“He's a blessing to us. He's part of the family now,” said Salas.
The family is even inviting Carlson to Kendall’s baptism later this year.
The officer and the little girl share a special bond.
“From that day, I felt connected to her,” said Carlson.
In a neighborhood where some residents don't trust police, the connection between the officer and the family goes a long way.
“Now, my son, when he sees a police officer, he’s like, ‘Oh, there’s my amigo,’” said Salas.
“I think a lot of times we get a negative connotation that we're just a heavy hand, but that's not the case. A lot of officers are out here because they want to do good. They want to help people,” added Carlson. “We want to be out here making their quality of life better, in whatever way we can. They're living and going through the same stuff we are.”
Next month, Carlson will receive an award for saving Kendall’s life at a public ceremony.
Carlson was recommended for the award by Central Division Patrol Sgt. Nick Nguyen.
“The toughest calls that we as law enforcement go to are the ones that are for people that essentially can't take care of themselves," Nguyen said.
The sergeant has also recommended another colleague for the award, SDPD Officer Carlos Muñoz.
In October 2015, Muñoz stopped a suicidal man from jumping off a 12th story ledge in the East Village onto a play area for children. The officer established a rapport with the man.
“We talked about many different things, like what he was feeling, what he was thinking. He said he felt like a coward for not jumping. I told him he was a coward if he did. And I was there to help,” said Muñoz. “You don't come to someone as a police officer, you come to them as a human being.”
Muñoz literally talked the man off the edge. On his own, the man climbed over the ledge and into the officer’s arms.
Nguyen says the life-saving award isn’t only motivating for the officers who are honored, but motivating to all officers around them.
“It shows to the other officers that their hard work does get recognized by the public, by the department, and by their superiors," said Muñoz.
Officers at Central Division say up to 45 percent of their calls involve the mentally ill homeless, so working with a sense of empathy while remaining alert is important.
In one area on Commercial Street, tents line both sides of the street underneath a highway overpass. Officers say the area is also known for drugs.
“So when we get a call of an unknown person making suicide threats, we have to come here and try to find a needle in a haystack, so to speak. We never know how many people are in a tent, or what kind of weapons they have in them," Muñoz explained.
"Many homeless carry weapons to defend themselves because they're living out in the streets. They can go from being totally compliant one second to being incredibly combative the very next second," he added.
Sometimes, officers are able to de-escalate potential violence, with empathy.
"They know the sincerity in your heart, the sincerity in your voice; they'll more often than not listen to you," said Muñoz.
And sometimes, the people officers come into contact with just need help.
“They run out of medication. They need to go see a doctor. So I ask them, do you need to go to the doctor? They say yes, and we'll take them to the hospital. We'll get them the help that they need," said Muñoz.
While Muñoz and Carlson are being recognized for two entirely different incidents, what they do have in common is they were able to use their people skills to help someone in crisis. And that's exactly what San Diego police say their job is all about – being able to communicate effectively with people.
