A former drug addict in California is getting ready to graduate from college and will have a special guest with her as she accepts her diploma -- the police officer who arrested her five years ago.
Lieutenant Jim Foster of the Long Beach Police Department, arrested Tiffany Hall on drug charges, but rather then just booking her and going about his day, he decided to spend a little time with her and try to help her realize that she's capable of so much more in life -- a message Tiffany obviously received loud and clear.
She says, "He would encourage me all the time. 'Tiffany, you can do better than this.' 'Tiffany, why don't you try to go to school.' 'Tiffany, why don’t you stop.'"
Tiffany, then 24 years old, took the words to heart and set out to change her life. She enrolled in college and is now just a few weeks away from graduating.
Last week, she visited Foster at the police station for the first time since their initial encounter and thanked him for saving her life. She also invited him to come to her graduation. Foster says, "The biggest joy of my professional career is from time-to-time having contact with people who have found their way out of horrible circumstances and into life's success."