Kaukauna police officer reunites with boy he saved 11 years ago
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WLUK) -- In a frame, on a table, inside the Kaukauna Police Department, sits a newspaper article about an officer who saved the life of a choking baby.
That officer was Charlie Vosters, and the baby was 10-month-old Zeke Tomlin.
It's safe to say the story about how the two met is one that will always keep them connected.
"I got the call for an infant choking. I arrived on scene to mom coming out of the door, kind of in a panic. I ran up to her and she basically threw her child at me, almost, and told me he's choking," said Charlie Vosters.
Vosters' instincts kicked in.
"I held my forearm out, flipped him over onto my forearm, gave him a few back blows and after that, Holly -- mom -- ended up saying, 'Wait, I see something,' and pulled out a pink Barbie shoe," Vosters said.
Tomlin was too young at the time to remember what happened, but his parents made sure he knew the story.
"Especially my mom. She told it to me a lot over and over and I found out that I was in the newspaper and I thought it was pretty cool when I was little. I still do think it's cool," said Zeke Tomlin.
Fast-forward 11 years and one of Tomlin's assignments for music class was to write a story about a hero.
"I chose Officer Vosters," Tomlin said.
He read his story during his music concert Thursday night.
Vosters also attended the concert.
"That moment got me. It was one of those where I started to tear up a little bit along with a lot of other people," Vosters said.
He hugged Tomlin and they even took a photo, to remember the new moment.
"First word I said was thank you," Tomlin said.
"It was one of those moments where, 'Wow, I really did make an impact on somebody's life and no matter how young they are, the word will get passed along and it'll come around full circle,"' Vosters said.
