Winthrop officer credited with saving young girl who wandered into the ocean

WINTHROP, Mass. — A Winthrop police officer rescued a three-year-old girl from the ocean after she slipped out of the house unnoticed Friday morning, police said.

Officer James Freeman, a 15-year veteran of the force, was working a construction detail near Shore Dr., and Dolphin Ave., when he noticed the little girl following a dog along the shoreline at Winthrop Beach, according to a news release.

Officer Freeman initially approached her cautiously because of the protective pit bull. But the girl followed the dog into the water, stumbling and falling, before drifting farther into the ocean, police said.

The officer jumped into the water and pulled the girl to safety. A neighbor, who asked only to be identified as Sean, said he saw the officer emerge carrying the girl. Sean’s wife ran to them, helping carry the child inside.

“Before you know it, the police office is walking up with the girl soaked. He was completely soaked,” Sean said. “He just saved the girl’s life. He was definitely distraught and very upset about the whole thing.”

Sean’s wife dried off the girl, providing dry clothes and towels, Sean said, as police tried asking her who her parents were.

After several minutes, police located the girl’s mother at a house on a nearby street. The girl had followed the dog out an open door while her mother was sleeping, police said.

The girl and her mother, who was distraught, were taken to the hospital as a precaution. Both are expected to be okay.

Winthrop police and the Department of Children and Families are investigating the case.

Sean said Officer Freeman deserves credit for saving a young life.

“A lot of people think (police) details aren’t important,” Sean said, “and if it wasn’t for him directing traffic or whatever he was doing, it could’ve been really bad.”

Cox Media Group