Police Officer and Wife Adopt Baby of Homeless Woman Battling Drug Addiction
Good guys come in all shapes and sizes. They generally go unnoticed or unappreciated, simply showing kindness and love out of the goodness of their hearts, no recognition necessary.
But recognition isn’t a bad thing either. In fact, thanking those who love and serve others only encourages those watching to do the same.
Take Officer Jesse Whitten of the Santa Rosa, California Police Department, for example. The SRPD should probably dedicate the entire month of August to him.
On Aug. 7, Whitten was recognized by the department for saving a woman’s life at the beginning of the summer.
“He was sent to a call where desperate family members were trying to keep a relative from harming herself,” the SRPD wrote on Facebook.
“Officer Whitten remained calm during an intense situation and ultimately stopped the woman from harming herself further,” the post continued.
Whitten showed his true character once again by going beyond the call of duty later in the same month.
Press Democrat reported that Whitten and his wife Ashley were out on patrol in 2017 when they came across a pregnant woman who was addicted to drugs.
Whitten had encountered the woman before on more than one occasion. He’d take her to a shelter and urged her to take care of herself and her unborn baby.
Then, in February, on Valentine’s Day no less, she gave birth at 35 weeks gestation. Because of her history with Whitten, the homeless woman asked that the hospital call him — she had no one else.
Whitten and his wife already have three children of their own, but that didn’t stop them from reaching out to this woman and her baby in need.
“She said, ‘I want what’s best for her,'” Whitten told Press Democrat. “‘I can’t give her all the things I want her to have.'”
And thus began this family’s journey to adopt baby Harlow Masie. It’s been months since her birth mother placed her in Officer Whitten’s arms.
Finally, on Aug. 31, he and his family were officially able to call this sweet baby their own. The SRPD couldn’t be prouder of this officer, either.
“Congratulations, Whitten family, and welcome, baby, to the SRPD family!” the department wrote on its Facebook page.
Congratulations, indeed. What a joyous outcome for this sweet family and their precious baby girl. She’s only 6 months old, but it’s clear she has a lifetime of love ahead of her all because this good man and his family said “yes” on Valentine’s Day.
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