Police Officer Delivers Own Daughter Along Roadside

The Hawaii Police Department lists “teamwork” as among the core values its officers embody.

One member of the Kona Patrol took that to the highest of levels this week.

Officer Mario Ochoa delivered his own daughter on the side of a South Kohala Highway on Tuesday.

Hawaii News Now reported that Ochoa was driving his wife Ryan to the hospital in his police car when she informed him that it was time.

Since they were still 10 miles from Waimea, Ochoa pulled over along Highway 190 where 8-pound, 15.5-ounce Marcella Kahealani Ochoa was born.

The Ochoas then waited by the side of the road for an ambulance to take mother and baby to North Hawaii Community Hospital.

Marcella is the Ochoas’ second child.

Officer Ochoa is no stranger to exemplary actions.

He was named “Officer of the Month” in March for the earlier arrest of three men who stole a car from the parking lot of Kona’s public pool.

The suspects, who were allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine, were later found to have taken the victim’s cash and other property and used his credit card.

The arrests were among 23 arrests and 73 traffic citations he was credited with in January.

Ochoa has been a police officer for less than a year, having joined the force last July.

Sgt. Akira Edmoundson, who nominated Ochoa for the honor, described him as “an asset to the Hawaii Police Department and the community he serves.”

His family should definitely be added to that list.