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Officer Meets A Beaten-Up Toddler During Welfare Check, Decides To Give Her His Heart And His Home
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Officer Meets A Beaten-Up Toddler During Welfare Check, Decides To Give Her His Heart And His Home

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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Image credits: Brian Zach

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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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Denis Tymulis

Denis Tymulis

Author, Community member

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Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding. Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

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Denis Tymulis

Denis Tymulis

Author, Community member

Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding. Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

Rokas Laurinavičius

Rokas Laurinavičius

Author, BoredPanda staff

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Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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Rokas Laurinavičius

Rokas Laurinavičius

Author, BoredPanda staff

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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troufaki13
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish I could adopt all the mistreated, abused, neglected children of the world... :(

BabaBizzle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish I could burn the abusers to a crisp so they never hurt a beautiful innocent child again.

Load More Replies...
MagicalUnicorn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so happy little girl is now happy and safe, we need more those feel good stories <3

Load More Comments
troufaki13
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish I could adopt all the mistreated, abused, neglected children of the world... :(

BabaBizzle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish I could burn the abusers to a crisp so they never hurt a beautiful innocent child again.

Load More Replies...
MagicalUnicorn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so happy little girl is now happy and safe, we need more those feel good stories <3

Load More Comments
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