CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WCMH)–A North Carolina police officer connected with a suicidal student this week and helped him get the help he needed.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says Officer Tim Purdy was called out to an area high school to help a young student with autism who had left the campus.

Purdy sat down in the parking lot with the boy and started talking to him. CMPD says Purdy helped the boy talk things through and got him to start laughing. With that trust established, Purdy and other officers were able to help the boy.

“There’s more to policing than making arrests and enforcing the law. Sometimes taking those extra little steps makes the biggest difference in someone’s life,” the police department wrote.

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Purdy was recognized in 2014 as the “officer of the month” for his help apprehending a robbery suspect.What others are clicking on: