Retired Cop Smashes Window With Sledgehammer to Save Baby

Just because this guy retired from being a cop doesn't mean he's done saving lives. 53-year-old Steve Eckel is a retired police sergeant from Howell, New Jersey. On Monday, he was in the parking lot when he heard a baby screaming.

He realized someone had left their four-month-old baby in their car. It was 90 degrees outside, she had a blanket over her, and Steve says, "She was soaking wet, sweat all over her face and hair, her eyes were rolling back."

Steve ran to his car, grabbed a sledgehammer he happened to have in the truck, and smashed the window to save the baby. Then he took her inside where it was air conditioned and put cold water on her to cool her down.

The baby's mom is 33-year-old Karen Gruen. She finally showed up after 40 minutes away from the baby to figure out where she was and the cops arrested her for endangering the welfare of a child. If Steve hadn't smashed the window, the baby absolutely would've died.