New Jersey state trooper pulls over retired cop who delivered him in his own home 27 years ago

A New Jersey state trooper got a surprise of a lifetime when he realized that the retired cop he'd pulled over for a minor traffic violation turned out to be the same person who delivered the trooper 27 years ago in his family home.

What are the details?

According to KYW-TV, the stop occurred on Friday in Kingwood Township, New Jersey.

Trooper Michael Patterson of the New Jersey State Police pulled over Matthew Bailly — a retired officer – for "a minor traffic violation," KYW reported.

During the stop, Bailly told Patterson that he was a former Piscataway police officer, and the conversation took off from there.

Patterson confided that he grew up in the same town as Bailly, who in return asked the trooper in what part of the town he lived.

Patterson told Bailly that he grew up in a house on Poe Place.

One mention of the street's name triggered a memory for Bailly in which he delivered a baby boy named Michael on that very street on October 5, 1991, when he was just a rookie officer.

According to KYW, Trooper Patterson put out his hand and said, "My name is Michael Patterson, sir. Thank you for delivering me."

The outlet reported that Patterson's mom was out shopping when she went into labor. She was able to return home, and with the help of her husband, made it into the house.

Bailly, who responded to the emergency call, was able to deliver Patterson with the aid of a doctor, who was on the phone.

KYW reported that Patterson and his mother both visited Bailly after the traffic stop for a reunion.

What did New Jersey State Police post?

A Facebook post from the New Jersey State Police read:

We’re not sure what the odds are of this happening—maybe they’re close to the odds of a hole-in-one, winning the lottery, or being struck by lightning—but it happened.

On Friday, June 1, Trooper Michael Patterson stopped Matthew Bailly for a minor motor vehicle violation in Kingwood Township. During the initial conversation, Mr. Bailly told Trooper Patterson that he was a retired Piscataway police officer. Trooper Patterson, being a Piscataway native, told Mr. Bailly that he is from the same town. Now here’s where things get interesting…

Mr. Bailly asked Trooper Patterson where he used to live. When Trooper Patterson told him that he grew up on Poe Place, Mr. Bailly said that he remembered that street, because he helped deliver a baby there 27 years ago when he was a rookie cop. He was even able to describe the color, style of house, and the baby’s name, Michael.

Trooper Patterson extended his hand and replied, “My name is Michael Patterson, sir. Thank you for delivering me.”

Whatever the odds were, it happened. Trooper Michael Patterson stopped the police officer who delivered him 27 years ago in Piscataway. Mr. Bailly had four years on the job when he responded to a home on Poe Place in Piscataway. The date was October 5, 1991. Trooper Patterson’s mother, Karen Patterson, was out shopping when she went into labor. She barely made it home. Bobby Patterson, Trooper Patterson’s father, rushed outside, picked up his wife, and carried her inside the house. He then called the doctor who talked Officer Bailly through the birth.

Needless to say, Trooper Patterson, Matthew Bailly, and both of their families were ecstatic about the reunion.

So, Trooper Patterson and his mother visited Mr. Bailly and his wife at their home where they took these photos! They all felt this story was so uplifting, it needed to be shared, and we agree! After all, as a police officer, you don’t always get a chance to have a moment like this with people you once helped in your career!