Delaware County police officer Ian Kelly ('18), responded to the dispatch call of a lifetime on August 26 when he and his partner arrived at an apartment complex in Morton, PA, and heard the screams of a woman in labor.
Azimath Ligali’s baby was not due for another four weeks, but when the two officers appeared at the home, it was clear that the birth was imminent. They soon learned the EMS team would be delayed, and Kelly and his partner, Joseph LaSpina, quickly intervened to safely deliver a healthy infant.
It was an unusual scene for the Cabrini graduate, who said his engagements range from routine well-being checks on elderly or disabled citizens to patrols of more dangerous and violent crime scenes. Delivering babies in the field is rare, even for experienced EMS personnel, and poses considerable risk to the health of the newborn and mother, Kelly said.
The baby’s father said the officers were “angels” in an interview with ABC News in Philadelphia.
Though childbirth is not included in traditional police training, Kelly said he and LaSpina were “lucky to deliver the baby healthily and utilize what small training we had.”
Kelly has been with the Morton Police Department for the nearly two years since he graduated from Cabrini with degrees in Criminology and Political Science. He credits Katie Farina, PhD, Associate Professor of Criminology, for setting an example of tireless altruism and dedication to success.
Kelly said that Farina spent many extra hours helping students stay on track with their coursework. “You see that and try to pass it forward,” he said. “I learned from her to put in the work and help out new officers.”
Farina said Kelly is the “ideal individual” for police work. “For him, this is his purpose,” she said. “He wants to help people and believes that serving as a police officer is the perfect way to accomplish this feat.”
Farina and Vivian Smith, PhD, Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology, invited Kelly back to campus in late 2019 to share his field experience during the Sociology and Criminology Alumni Panel.
“Becoming an officer is a goal he's been working toward for as long as I've known him,” Farina said,
“and it makes me so extremely happy to see him living that dream.”
Kelly said his time at Cabrini also instilled maturity and personable skills that have helped him better engage with the community he serves. He has organized fundraisers to fight breast cancer and build a neighborhood basketball court, and he even manages the department’s social media channels.
Kelly is keenly aware of the ongoing debate and turmoil surrounding police in America. He said he strives for personal accountability rather than dwelling on negative attention.
“At the end of the day, if I'm doing my job correctly,” Kelly said, “I can go home and sleep well at night.”