It was March 04, 2023.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department posted a Facebook post congratulating five amazing police officers that were recently promoted and assigned.

As many people congratulated the dedicated public officials, one grandmother recognized one of the officers.

It was Lieutenant Sweeney, the officer that she and her family will never forget.

Twelve years ago, on a hot day in July 2011, then-Detective Walter Sweeney answered an emergency call of a baby drowning.

He immediately rushed to the scene, in a home in Severn.

There, he saw little Matthew unconscious.

They just pulled the infant out of the swimming pool, and he was no longer responding.

Detective Sweeney knew he had to act quickly.

He grabbed Matthew and performed CPR on the tiny boy. He was determined to save the infant’s life.

The boy didn’t look good.

Aside from being unconscious, he was blue.

His fingertips and lips were also blue.

“I gave him a couple of smacks on the back, and actually, before I could even start CPR, I gave him some chest compressions. Before I even got mouth to mouth, he started spitting up some of the water and breathing again, and the color started coming back,” Sweeney told the media.

Detective Sweeney’s efforts paid off. The 14-month-old boy survived, and they were all happy to see him smile again.

After little Matthew’s recovery, they visited Detective Sweeney, and they posed for a photo.

That was the last time they saw each other.

When Matthew’s grandmother saw Lieutenant Sweeney’s photo, she felt so excited, and she reached out to the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

There, she told the officials the story of how Lieutenant Sweeney saved their baby boy, who is now a teenager.

After they heard the story, the staff of the Anne Arundel County Police wanted to commemorate it.

They planned a surprise reunion.

They arranged everything and then, as Lieutenant Sweeney entered the room, he was surprised.

He never thought he would see Matthew again.

Matthew went to the Lieutenant and asked if he still remembered him. The Lieutenant replied that he does recognize him.

He also said that Matthew hasn’t changed a bit.

“So, it was very exciting. A lot of emotions kind of hidden back of how this happened,” Lieutenant Sweeney said.

Matthew doesn’t remember that faithful day, but his family made sure that he won’t forget what happened to him, and how a kind police officer saved his life.

Even after twelve years, Matthew’s family was still very thankful to the police officer.

“It means everything because, without him, I wouldn’t have (my son) now. We talk about it all the time and how grateful we are,” Matthew’s mother relayed to the people watching.

Like Lieutenant Sweeney, Matthew, who is now a teen, was also very happy to finally meet the person who saved his life twelve years ago.

He may not remember how it happened, but he knew that this man was the reason he was alive today.

It’s a favor he’ll never forget.

“I think it’s great to meet the guy that saved my life after 12 years,” Matthew said.

Everyone in the police station that day felt so happy as they saw a reunion that was twelve years in the making.

Lieutenant Sweeney and Matthew hugged, talked about their lives, and took many photos.

See the heartwarming moment Officer Sweeney is reunited with a boy he save years ago below!

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Article Sources:

Anne Arundel County Police Department

WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore

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By Ma Fatima Garcia

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Ma Fatima Garcia is a contributor at SBLY Media.