Albuquerque officer Ryan Holets holds his newly adopted daughter, Hope, after being recognized by the city of Albuquerque on Monday. In September, Holets convinced a pregnant woman he found using heroin to let him adopt her unborn child. That baby, Hope, is now recovering for being born with an addiction. Holets and his wife have four other children.
Albuquerque officer Ryan Holets holds his newly adopted daughter, Hope, after being recognized by the city of Albuquerque on Monday. In September, Holets convinced a pregnant woman he found using heroin to let him adopt her unborn child. That baby, Hope, is now recovering for being born with an addiction. Holets and his wife have four other children.Russell Contreras/Associated Press

Officer Ryan Holets and his wife were praised Monday for adopting a baby girl they named Hope after the addicted mom agreed to let the couple raise her baby.

Police say Holets found the homeless woman and a man using heroin near a convenience store in September. But instead of charging the couple with drug possession, he asked to adopt her child.

Holets and his wife had four other children, including a 10-month-old infant.

Holets says the baby is recovering after being born with an opioid addiction.

Albuquerque Police Sgt. Jim Edison says “he couldn’t be more proud” of Holets.