I helped a starving newborn found beside an unconscious woman — years later, he honored me with a medal on stage.

The city of Riverside has recently reflected on a story of extraordinary compassion, resilience, and the enduring bond between a police officer and a child he rescued 16 years ago.

Officer Trent, now 48, recalls the moment that transformed his life and the life of a baby he discovered in an abandoned apartment.

A night that would ultimately lead to the adoption of a son and a story of healing, hope, and family.

A Tragic Past Sets the Stage

Trent’s own life had been shadowed by tragedy long before the fateful call. Two years prior, a devastating house fire claimed the lives of his wife and infant daughter.

The kind of loss that leaves emotional scars difficult to articulate left him bracing for grief at every turn. In his own words, “The fire didn’t just break me. Continue reading…