Somerville Police Officer Albert Gee just after saving baby's life. ~Photos by William Tauro 2 year old was choking on drain plug William Tauro and George P. Hassett A police officer working a paid detail on Somerville Avenue saved the life of a choking two-year-old boy Tuesday morning, leaving a relieved Somerville dad to say, "Big up to the cops, I thank them a million times." At 7:40 a.m., Somerville Police Officer Albert Gee was working on the MassHighway construction project when he heard a radio call reporting a baby not breathing at 15 Church St. He then saw the child's father running toward him screaming for help.

"He was out of his wits," Gee said.

Gee and other officers followed the dad back to the house and saw that the child was gurgling and gasping for breath. "He actually turned colors," said the boy's father, Michael Gilmore.

Gee said he put the child face down in his left hand and then gave four or five firm taps on the boy's back.

A drain plug about the size of a half dollar popped out of the boy's mouth, he said. "It hit every single step on the way down, it was a great sound. We knew it was out," Gee said.

The boy was brought to a doctor and checked out. By Tuesday afternoon he was back to playing on his Church Street porch.

Gee, who is 35 and has been with the Somerville police for two years, will receive the department's life saving award.

"As the Mayor of the city I couldn't be more impressed by the response of the officers and dispatchers involved in saving this child's life," Curtatone said. "As the parent of young children, it brings me comfort to know we've got people like Officer Gee on the force."

Acting Police Chief Michael Cabral said he was "especially proud of Officer Albert Gee, who without doubt, saved this young life."

Deputy Police Chief Paul Upton said police officers working paid details in Somerville can be activated to respond to emergencies at any time. "When seconds count, we know we can count on the detail officers scattered around the city. And this young baby needed help in seconds, not minutes."

In an interview, Gee rejected being labeled a hero. "It's our job. We're trained the same way, anyone else in the Somerville Police Department would have done the same thing."

But on Church Street, the boy's parents insisted Gee deserves each honor he gets. "He's a trained professional, but he's also a hero," said Gilmore. "No matter what he says."