Last week, Raleigh police officer Dan Hicks was about to call it a day when he received a call that someone was sitting atop an overpass.
Springing into action, Officer Hicks proceeded to the bridge and approached the man on the ledge.
"I introduced myself by my first name and at that point we were just two people," said Hicks. "In my mind, I had already made the decision that he was coming over to my side of the bridge."
As you see in the video from ABC11 News (beginning at the 0:53 mark), the officer successfully helped the man off the ledge but did something unexpected - Hicks immediately embraced him with a hug.
"He took my compassionate statement to say you can come back to the other side of this bridge with me," Hicks continued. "When I was pulling him in tight, the only thing that I said to him was that you're okay and it's over."
Hicks revealed that the hug not only helped alleviate the dangerous situation, but it gave the man the compassion he so desperately needed.
“I don't know anything about this individual - for his safety and for mine I wanted him close to me. So I pulled him in, gave him a big hug and I think it's what he needed," Hicks explained. "He was in a very dire position, and I think he had some very bad thoughts going through his mind about how he felt about himself, but I also think he wanted help."
Officer Hicks didn't know the moment was caught on a DOT camera and the story has since gone viral for obvious reasons.
Faith in humanity restored. Show your support now!
H/T: ABC11 News