An Alabama police officer showed her soft side in a viral photo after reporting to the scene of an overdose.
Birmingham South Precinct officer Michelle Burton responded to a 911 call in a public housing community around 9 p.m. Tuesday night after neighbors found the mother and father of four children unconscious inside their apartment, according to AL.com.
The 30-year-old father was dead of an overdose when police arrived. The 35-year-old mother was unconscious, but was revived at the scene and taken to the hospital.
Police found the children inside: a 7-year-old girl, a 3-year-old boy, a 2-year-old boy and a 1-month-old girl.
“It was a real sad situation,” South Precinct Lt. David Rockett told the newspaper. “At least one of the parents survived. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that.”
Following protocol, the officers took the children to the precinct where they waited for social workers to take them into protective custody.
“A police officer’s job is very hard and very demanding. We come across a lot of scenes of a tragic nature, especially when children are involved,” Capt. Ron Sellers told AL.com.
Burton was photographed holding the youngest child inside the precinct and her husband, Jefferson County Sheriff Sergeant Brian Burton, shared the touching photo on Facebook.
“Last night, my wife Michelle Burton told me she would be late getting off work because of call she was on where the parents of 4 small children had both overdosed. Michelle said the father was dead and the mother was critical,” he wrote.
“She spent the rest of the night taking care of these babies. She got home at 4 this morning. I’ve never seen her more beautiful than in this picture. What an incredible woman.”