Mariana Cremonte endured physical abuse from her partner for seven years before she finally called for help.

She dialed 911 on Sept. 14, 2014, while the father of her children was away and she was home with her two young sons.

Then Chattanooga police Officer George Forbes showed up at her door.

"I was really nervous, I couldn't even talk," Cremonte remembered on Wednesday. "He asked if I had anywhere to go, and I said, 'No.' He said, 'I'm going to take you to a safe place. Go inside, take everything you need for you and your kids. I'll wait here.'"

Cremonte grabbed her sons, now ages 7 and 4, and left with Forbes. She was then helped by the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, a nonprofit organization that runs a shelter for victims of domestic violence.

On Wednesday, Cremonte met with Forbes at the Police Services Center on Amnicola Highway to publicly thank him for saving her life.

"I hope you can help many more women like me," she said. "We need more survivors. We need more police officers with good hearts. Thank you."

Forbes wrapped Cremonte in a hug as a small group of onlookers applauded.

"You're very welcome," he said.

Cremonte said her sons are slowly beginning to recover, though every day is a struggle. She was with their father for 14 years, she said, and he was abusive for half that time. She vowed never to return.

In 2015, the Partnership helped 1,065 victims of domestic violence, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit said in a statement Wednesday. The agency also operates a 24/7 crisis hotline and answered 8,076 calls on that number last year.

Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas. Follow @ShellyBradbury.