Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Nebraska Officers Honored for Saving Baby from Wrecked Car in Freezing Water

A two-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near North Platte was reported about 9:45 p.m. on Thanksgiving. When Trooper Alex Coffman arrived, he found two vehicles on their sides and partially submerged in the waters of Fremont Slough.

by Staff
January 2, 2024
Nebraska Officers Honored for Saving Baby from Wrecked Car in Freezing Water

Two vehicles crashed into Fremont Slough on Thanksgiving night.

Credit:

Nebraska State Patrol

1 min to read


Honored Friday for their bravery were Nebraska State Trooper Alex Coffman, left, and Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff Tyler Schultz, flanking Gov. Jim Pillen.

Credit:

Nebraska State Patrol


A Nebraska state trooper and a Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy who jumped into freezing water to rescue a trapped, 1-year-old girl were honored Friday for their bravery.

Ad Loading...

The actions of Trooper Alex Coffman and Lincoln County Deputy Tyler Schultz were labeled as representative of the “dedication and selflessness” of public servants by Gov. Jim Pillen.

During a press conference Friday, the governor and Col. John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, presented the Patrol’s Life Saver Award to Coffman and the Public Service Award to Schultz for their actions on Thanksgiving night.

A two-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near North Platte was reported about 9:45 p.m. on Thanksgiving. When Trooper Coffman arrived, he found two vehicles on their sides and partially submerged in the waters of Fremont Slough, the Nebraska Examiner reports.


After aiding the other occupants of the vehicle, the officers learned that a baby girl was trapped inside one of the cars.

Ad Loading...

Wading into and submerging into the freezing water, Coffman was able to get inside the vehicle and cut away the seat belt that was holding the 1-year-old girl in her infant car seat.


Schultz was then able to pull the girl out of the vehicle through a broken window. The rescue was captured on the trooper’s body camera.

More Patrol

Three tactical backpacks set against a desert background with an inset logo for 5.11.
PatrolJanuary 21, 2026

5.11 Debuts New Load-Bearing Gear at SHOT Show

5.11 launched a variety of new load-bearing gear, ranging from backpacks to chest packs, designed for training, travel, and everyday readiness, this week during SHOT Show 2026.

Read More →
Blue background with Streamlight logo at top and inset images of one handgun light, two rifle lights, and one handheld light.
PatrolJanuary 21, 2026

Streamlight Launches the Rechargeable TLR-3X & Other Lights at SHOT Show

Streamlight launched the TLR-3X and TLR-3X USB, two new weapon lights, and an assortment of other new lights during SHOT Show 2026.

Read More →
dark ballistic sunglasses against a blue smokey background
PatrolJanuary 21, 2026

EOTech & Fast Metal Introduce the EOTech Halen Ballistic Spectacle System

Built on the proven Halen platform, the new EOTech x Fast Metal Halen Ballistic Spectacle System is the only aluminum frame listed on the U.S. Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Black background, outline of Florida, headline 2 Officers Shot
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 14, 2026

2 Florida Officers Shot After Shots-Fired Call

Two officers were shot in Gainesville, Florida, by a man who police say was leaving an area where he had killed a man inside a business. The suspect exited his vehicle in what the chief termed an “ambush-style” attack.

Read More →
Blue-tinted background photo of hand hanging up an office phone and headline Richmond Heights PD: Harassment and Threats Will Be Addressed Accordingly
PatrolJanuary 14, 2026

Mistaken Identity: Ohio Police Department Harassed After ICE OIS

An Ohio police department has received harassing phone calls and social media messages because it has an officer with the same name as the ICE officer identified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, officer-involved shooting.

Read More →
Black background with POLICE logo, police light bar, and headline Top 10 Videos of 2025.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 7, 2026

Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025

What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Blue tinted background of a police dispatcher with headline Flock Safety + Coreforce Integation
TechnologyJanuary 7, 2026

Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement

A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.

Read More →
three background images - man in tactical gear, image of ballistic helmet, photo of police officer in tactical gear approaching a car, and a circle with logo for Ballistic Armor Co.
PatrolJanuary 7, 2026

Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities

Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.

Read More →
image of men on bicycles and women competing in martial arts and a log for the US Police & Fire Championships
PatrolDecember 10, 2025

Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility

The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactic & TIps against a black background and an illuminated police car light bar. Headline for Tips for Watching the Hands
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 5, 2025

Tips for Watching the Hands

How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.

Read More →