An Arizona police officer and his wife have officially adopted a little girl after the officer helped her to get away from abuse.

Kingman Police Department lieutenant Brian Zach was a patrol sergeant in March of 2018 when he was called to little Kaila’s home who at the time had suffered abuse and multiple injuries at the hands of her caretakers.

Brian comforted Kaila while they waited for detectives to come to take her to the hospital. “We colored, we snacked … she held my hand and she was just this cute little thing,” Zach told Good Morning America. “Once detectives came, they picked her up and took her to the hospital.”

Image credits: Brian Zach

Zach, a father to two other children, went home after spending hours with Kaila and told his wife all about it, expressing that he wanted the girl to come to live with them.

Meanwhile, Kaila was being treated for multiple injuries as a result of physical abuse. According to Zach, criminal charges were filed against her caretakers.

Image credits: Brian Zach

When child protective services couldn’t find immediate placement for Kaila, Zach and Cierra stepped in. “She came with a sippy cup, a bag of clothes that didn’t fit her and that was it,” the policeman said.

“Within the second day she was calling my wife ‘mom’ or ‘mommy,'” he recalled. “I was ‘guy’ for a week or two and then when she started preschool she learned who ‘dad’ was.”

Image credits: Brian Zach

Image credits: Brian Zach

“We lived each week not knowing if she was going to go back to her biological parents, or how long we were going to keep her,” Zach explained. “Our goal was to love and care for this little girl for as long as it happened.”

Kingman Police Department’s chief of police Rusty Cooper said that lieutenant Brian Zach’s commitment to public safety is exemplified in his commitment and love for Kaila, adding that both Brian and his wife Cierra are amazing parents.

Image credits: Brian Zach

“They are committed to the service of others and a cause that is greater than themselves,” Copper added. “We are proud of Brian and thankful that he and his family are part of the Kingman Police Department.”

Image credits: Brian Zach

On the 18th of August, roughly 30 months after Kaila came into Brian and Cierra’s care, the Zachs officially adopted Kaila at Mohave County Superior Court in Lake Havasu City.

Her dad said Kaila enjoys preschool, animals, dancing, and make-believe play when going on ‘cruises vacations’ in her cardboard box. The mindset for a global pandemic!

“She is so comical, she is so witty. She’s just a character.”

Image credits: Brian Zach

Image credits: Brian Zach

Image credits: Brian Zach

Image credits: Brian Zach

To find out more about Brian and Kaila, check out the video below

Here is what people said after hearing their heartwarming story

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