Public servants like the Police are always under scrutiny. But for every police officer out there who does deserve some criticism, many responsible and hardworking officers are just doing the best they can to perform their civic duty. And some, like Arizona's Brian Zach, are even brave enough to take a big step forward to help those in need.

Regardless of how you feel about the police, this is a story that's bound to warm your heart and restore your faith not only in humanity but also in the badge. It's police officers like Brian who really help to make the world a better place and improve the lives in their local communities. But Brian's story is not just about his duty as a police officer: it's also a deeply personal tale that helps to show just how powerful the love for a child can be. If you're up for an inspiring story with lots of tear-jerking potential, you've come to the right place!

Daddy & Lieutenant

Brian Zach is no stranger to love. Living in Arizona, the Kingman Police Department lieutenant was blessed with a gorgeous family of four. Brian and his lovely wife Cierra, have two teenage children and make for what you'd call a perfect American family.

But whenever daddy's not home, he's working for the police department and making sure the streets are safe not only for his kids but also for everyone else. As a police officer, Brian has seen a lot of bad stuff throughout the years. But in 2018, a patrol call ended up changing his family’s lives forever.

Not All Families Are Like Zach's

Ask any police officer out there: few things have a greater impact on crime rates than unstable households. Sadly, Arizona is filled with troubled families. And while Brian gets to come home to a lovely family every night after work, his billable hours are spent interacting with some of the most deranged, dysfunctional, and unhealthy families in the state.

In life's lottery, you never get to choose who your parents are going to be. And while some of us are blessed with a loving and caring family, others are not so lucky...

Responding to the Call

Brian and his police officer partner were on duty in March 2018 when they received a disturbing call. A 2-year-old child was severely injured and needed to be taken from her carers as soon as possible. The two cops rushed into the scene as fast as they could to ensure the child's safety.

Brian was no stranger to events like these. Unfortunately, violence against children is still widespread, especially among deranged families. But to Brian, the call was particularly daunting. After all, it reminded him of a violent and tragic case that haunted the Kingsman Police Department since 2011.

A Tormenting Flashback

Whenever new cases of injured children were reported, Brian thought of a tragic incident that happened in Kingsman in 2011 when a man called Dustin Colpitts was charged with murder for fatally shaking the body of a 13-month-old infant. The name of the child was Adriana Sweeney, and she was the daughter of Colpitts's girlfriend.

The tragic event led to Colpitts's arrest, but the Kingsman police were sadly unable to save the child's life. Brian wanted to make sure nothing as gruesome would ever happen to another child from that moment on.

At the Scene

With that horrifying memory still fresh in his mind, Brian arrived at the scene to find a very debilitated little girl. She was in clear need of medical attention, and there was no doubt that her abusive carers weren’t to be trusted around her.

That was the first time Brian ever saw Kaila. He was immediately drawn to the little girl, who proved to be much stronger than you'd expect, especially considering the situation. She wasn't much of a talker, but it was impossible not to like her. And she felt an almost immediate connection to Brian.

Brian's Second Chance

Later, in an interview, Brian mentioned the haunting case of the deceased 13-month-old and referred to Kaila as his "second chance." Not even the best police officers can prevent all tragedies, but this time, Brian made sure the traumatizing 2011 case was not going to be repeated.

From the moment Brian and Kaila first met, the little girl was very fond of the police officer, grabbing his hand and putting it on her lap just to hold it. She wasn't the shyest of all kids, but she was in clear need of love and attention.

Five Fun Hours

Kaila was immediately removed from her carers by the child protective services. And while she waited for appropriate medical attention, she got the chance to spend five hours with Brian. Those five hours would end up being crucial for the development of a relationship between the two.

Probably not used to being in a safe place, nor to the loving attention of adults, Kaila was very responsive to Brian, who she liked from the first place. She kept holding the police officer's hand while they did all kinds of fun stuff.

Coloring & Watching TV

It was clear that Kaila was the victim of abuse. And to take her young mind off of it all, Brian made sure she was distracted and having fun while they waited for the incoming detectives. And how?

Proving to have a great knack for children, Brian convinced the little Kaila to do some coloring. They also had a snack and watched a kid's movie together: Disney's computer-animated comedy film Wreck-It Ralph. By the time Brian and Kaila's five hours together were over, the two almost felt like they had known each other all their lives.

Taken to the Hospital

Brian felt a special connection with Kaila, and he was almost sad when the detectives arrived to take her to a Las Vegas hospital. But Kaila's medical diagnosis was extremely worrisome: she had a skull fracture, that caused bleeding in her brain and a dislocated elbow. It was almost unbelievable how strong she'd been for the past five hours despite her injuries!

But the poor little girl needed to continue to be very strong. Her carers at the time were clearly unfit to watch over her, and she was going to be put through the often-brutal foster-care social system.

What About Her Carers?

Kaila's brutal injuries were certainly not the result of a playground accident. And the detectives deemed it unsafe for Kaila to return to her previous home. She was going to be put through the system, and her future was worryingly uncertain. But what about her carers?

While it's always hard to prove Kaila's carers were undoubtedly responsible for her injuries, they were, in fact, criminally charged for the way they treated the child. Few things are known about Kaila's former caretakers, but there's no doubt they were at least guilty of gross negligence.

She Made Her Mark

Back home after a tiring night on the job, Brian told his wife Cierra that he'd met the loveliest of little girls. Cierra didn't pay much attention at the time. After all, Kaila wasn't the first struggling child Brian had met on the job.

Later, in an interview, the Kingsman police officer said that if Cierra had a dollar for every time he said he wanted to bring a child home, they would probably be rich! But Kaila had left a stirring mark on Brian, and there was definitely something special about her...

No Home For Kaila

The U.S. children's protective services function under a strict set of rules. Tasked with finding a new home for Kaila, the officials started searching for her living relatives. Unfortunately, it seemed like none of Kaila's family members was prepared to assume custody of the child.

With no other option, the officials considered placing Kaila in a foster home. But there was another way out for the little girl: a protective legal mechanism known as fictive kinship, that would end up being crucial for the child's future.

Fictive Kinship is the Answer

Putting it simply, fictive kinship allows close family friends, who are not strictly or at all related, to assume custody of a child. For fictive kinship to work, it is important foster a good relationship between the child and his future carers. And in Kaila's case, that wasn't a problem at all.

Brian took some time to make sure that taking care of Kaila wouldn't affect the criminal investigation case involving her former carers. But as soon as that was done with, Brian received the good news: Kaila would be staying with his family temporarily!

Cierra Was Supportive

After listening to Brian talk about bringing struggling children home for a good 15 years, Cierra was surprised to find out that, this time, it was actually going to happen! And the most impressive part was how quick the whole process was. Brian met Kaila on a Saturday, and the following Wednesday, she was set to come home with him.

Considering that Brian and Cierra had two teenage children already, one can see how welcoming Kaila into the family could be worrisome. But Cierra was supportive from the beginning: she wanted to help this child just as much as Brian did.

The Light of the House

All parents know just how much a young child can light up a house. In the Zachs’ love-filled household, Kaila fit right in. She was a perfect new addition to the family of four and was adored by everyone, from Brian and Cierra to her new older siblings Raina and Trevin.

One could say that she was the light of the house. But at that time, Kaila's future was still tainted by uncertainty. She felt right at home among Brian and the rest of the family, but the Zachs household was still just a temporary home for the 2-year-old.

Mommy & Daddy

Not used to all the care and attention, Kaila embraced her new family and home from the very start. Her new life with the Zachs was very different from her previous experience, and it took her just two days to start calling Cierra "mommy."

While many foster children do experience some difficulties adapting to change, Kaila had no issues with fitting in. She started referring to Brian as her "dad" in no time and seemed extremely happy with her new life. But there was still a worrying menace hovering over Kaila's stay with the Zach household.

Afraid to Lose Her

As Kaila continued to open up to the family, it was clear that Brian, Cierra, and their two teenage children were becoming very attached to the quirky 2-year-old. By this point, the Zach household was split in half by two very different feelings: they were excited to have Kaila, but they were also terrified of losing her.

Kaila's stay with the Zachs was still officially considered to be a temporary one. Every day, Brian and Cierra feared that Kaila's biological parents would swoop in and take the beloved child away from them. It was a period of palpable tension and uncertainty.

Kaila Was Blooming

As the weeks went by, it became obvious that Kaila's stay with the Zachs was life-changing. The family was excited about taking care of the little girl, and Kaila was blooming into an increasingly intelligent, energetic, and happy kid.

In a later interview, Brian mentioned that Kaila was almost like a "caveman" at first, speaking no more than a few words. But within a few weeks, she was a talker. She was funny and witty, and she was making life better for everybody who lived in the Zachs household. To put it simply, she felt right at home alongside Brian, Cierra, and her new brother and sister.

Making It Official

To Kaila, there was no doubt that Brian and Cierra were the people she wanted to be with. But a child's opinion is still subjected to the ins-and-outs of the law, and the Zachs knew they needed to make things official if they wanted to give Kaila the stability she needed in her future.

So, they wasted no time to get the adoption process moving. They wanted to make sure that Kaila was theirs to take care of and that nobody would ever be able to take their beloved child away from them.

She's a Zach!

On August 18, 2020, the good news finally came in. After months of living with Brian and Cierra, Kaila was officially deemed as their adopted child. It was a very happy day for the Zach household, and it felt like a giant weight was lifted off of the family's shoulders.

At last, Brian and Cierra could go to bed without having to worry about losing their beloved Kaila the next day. It was the legal confirmation of what had become an indisputable reality: the Zachs were now a family of five, and they couldn't be happier about it!

A Remarkable Example of Civil Service

When the good news came, the Kingsman Police Department felt nothing but honor for having a man like Brian Zach in their ranks. He took his pledge of civil service further by doing something remarkable for a child in need and changing her life forever.

The department's chief, Rusty Cooper, was extremely supportive of Brian's selfless decision. When the story made it to the newspapers, he said that the department was "proud of Brian" and that "he and his family" were a "part of the Kingman Police Department." But the praise was coming from almost everywhere...

Inspiring Thousands

It's not every day that you see a police officer adopting a child they rescued while doing their job. Brian and Kaila's story was unique, and it made it to many newspapers, TV morning shows, and online editorials. All over, thousands of people reacted positively to Brian's inspiring, selfless actions.

Internet commentators had nothing but nice words to say about Brian and his caring family, pointing out that "this child can now sleep safe and loved" and that officer Zach was a "true hero." Many also admitted to having been inspired by the heart-warming tale, considering it to be "the most beautiful story."

A Strong Personality

Now a happy 4-year-old girl, Kaila is more than a child with an unbelievable story to tell. As Brian himself has put it, she's also a real character and a little woman with a lot of heart and charisma.

Kaila's old days of mumbling like a "caveman" are gone for good, and she's now the life and soul of the Zachs household. When she's not saying the "funniest, off-the-wall things," the little Kaila enjoys make-believe play, animals, dancing, and preschool. Judging by how happy she is today, it's almost hard to believe she comes from such a troubled and abusive background.

Part of the Family

Today, visiting the Zachs household is just like visiting any other family. They're a proud and happy ensemble of five, with the little Kaila being the natural little joker of the bunch.  Their lives have changed forever, just like any other family when a new member is welcomed into the house.

All along, the Zachs know they have made the right choice. And underneath it all, there's this inspiring tale of love, transformation, and success that tells them apart from any other happy family out there. But make no mistake: even though Kaila was successfully saved from her abusive carers, there are still thousands or even millions of American children in desperate need of some Brian and Cierra in their lives.

The Zachs Will Continue to Help Children in Need

Knowing all too well that the fight against child abuse is far from over, the Zachs have said they plan on renewing their foster license to help other struggling children like Kaila. Naturally, they cannot adopt every single child who's going through a rough time in the Kingsman area, but they want to show that even a little bit of help goes a long way.

In a message to other concerned citizens, Cierra encouraged other people to participate in the fostering process. There are still many kids out there who are in desperate need of some help. Even if it's only for a moment, you too can have a huge impact on the life of a struggling child.