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On cam: Officer saves baby's life; years later, she wants to be a police officer

A police officer went above and beyond the call of duty, saving the life of a 3-month-old baby when she stopped breathing. Now, years later, she wants to be a police officer, just like her hero.

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A police officer went above and beyond the call of duty, saving the life of a 3-month-old baby when she stopped breathing.

Body camera footage from the horrifying moment shows a panicked mother pleading with the officer – and God – to save her baby.

The officer immediately jumped into action and resuscitated the baby. In the background, the mother can be heard shouting, "I need you, God!"

Years later, Detective Mike Harton of the North Haven Police Department in Connecticut is still part of that little girl's life – and she wants to grow up to be a police officer, just like her hero.

Tooka is now 5 years old, and she and Harton share an unbreakable bond.

"I was I standing right about there and that’s when her mother came running toward this way," recalls Harton.

Nikki Huckaby, Tooka's mother, remembers it all too well.

“I’m screaming my baby is not breathing, please help me sir," she says.

Camera footage shows the baby in distress.

“She curled back, trying to take a breath and then she went completely limp on me," he says. "In my arms."

Tooka was choking. Harton's training kicked in. Huckaby prayed, while he began life-saving care.

"That was all I was thinking, is like, she cannot die in this movie theater," recalls Huckaby.

“All I could think in my head was not on my watch, not on my watch," says Harton.

After about 30 seconds of chest compressions and back blows – they heard the miraculous sound of a baby crying.

"That cry was the best cry ever." says Harton.

“I literally watched a miracle happen before my eyes for the first time in my life," says Tooka's mother.

Harton says the miracle also changed his life that day. That's why he calls Tooka his 'Little Angel.'

"That day an angel came down. She did more for me than I did for her. My life changed that day. Our family got extended and it’s amazing," he says.

Ever since that day, Harton has showed up for Tooka: Birthdays, holidays, first days of school. His heroic act secured him a permanent role in her life: Her godfather.

“I don’t know anyone else who could say my godfather saved my life," says Tooka's mother.

So what does Tooka want to be when she grows up?

"A police man," she says.

Her godfather says he'll guide her through it, to help make her dreams come true.

“A lot of people don’t get a chance to have that positive relationship with police officers," says Tooka's mother. "I hope this story is an example of how you can come together from different worlds and really be family, because we are humans first.”

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