A POLICE officer has adopted a 10-year-old boy who he found bruised, bound and drenched in cold water while responding to a child abuse call.

Oklahoma officer Jody Thompson has become the official guardian of the boy, John, and his baby sister after rescuing him from horrendous conditions two years ago.

Officer Thompson responded to a physical child abuse allegation in 2015, but despite having experience investigating such cases, he said it was “the worst thing I’ve ever seen”.

Arriving at the site, he saw a severely underweight eight-year-old boy who had his wrists tied together with belts, bruises covering his back and a huge lump on his head.

John, who weighed just 28kg, had also been submerged in bin full of freezing water.

“When I’d seen him in that house shivering and his hands tied — just soaking wet and confused — I knew at that moment the only time I would be satisfied and sure that he was safe is if he was with me,” he told CBS News.

“He did not have a spot on his body that didn’t have a bruise or abrasion. It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

Officer Thompson, of the Poteau Police Department, wrapped John in a blanket and took him to Oklahoma Children’s Advocacy centre so that his injuries could be photographed before taking him to hospital.

John was admitted to an intensive care unit, where Officer Thompson sat with him “all night until the next day.” He said he immediately felt a connection with the young boy and knew he would become a part of his life.

He later registered to become a certified foster parent with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) and brought John home to meet the rest of the family a few days after. Officer Thompson didn’t tell his wife, Jeannie, and children, Ryan and Charley — who were aged 15 and 8 at the time — that he was bringing John back.

The boy was welcomed into the family on April 30, 2015 — and around the same time they found out they were expecting their third biological child.

Another surprise came for the Thompsons when the DHS contacted them seven months later to ask if they wanted to foster John’s sister Paizley, who was born while in jail.

“We literally picked her up in the hospital the next day when she was a day old and brought her straight home,” Officer Thompson said. “Never in my life did I dream of having a large family, but God had different plans and so here we are. And I’m loving it all.”

After the boy’s parents, who are behind bars but awaiting trial, relinquished their parental rights, he was officially adopted last August. Later on, their parental rights to Paizley were relinquished and she was also officially adopted.

Officer Thompson says John has settled in well and is thriving with his new family. “John is amazing. He’s a straight-A student, on the honour roll, in the gifted and talented program, involved in the local drama club.

“That kid’s very resilient. He bounced back from this.”

The adopted father has now been honoured with a certificate of commendation from the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations.

“Jody’s actions as well has his families are second to none. The example of love and compassion he has shown to this young man and his sister is an example everyone should follow,” Poteau Police Chief Stephen Fruen said in a statement.

“It’s men like you that make me proud of our law enforcement brothers and sisters. You are very deserving of this commendation. I am proud to serve with you.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was republished here with permission.