Harold J. Collins.
Sergeant Harold Collins contracted poliomyelitis while administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation of a seven-year-old drowning victim on November 7th, 1955.
He responded to a call of the child being found face down and unresponsive in Lee Pool, in modern-day Lederman Park in Boston. He immediately began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and was able to revive the child.
During her hospital stay, the girl was determined to be a carrier of all three strains of the poliovirus. Sergeant Collins contracted the virus and suffered the effects of the disease over the years, and retired from active duty in 1979. Sergeant Collins was struck with the post-polio syndrome in 2004 and died of its effects on May 31st, 2012.
Sergeant Collins was a U.S. Navy WWII veteran and served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 29 years.
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In tribute
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Collins gave the Metropolitan Police Department 29 years.
Thank you for your service to the Boston community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
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