This man deserves a hug from all of us

Police officer hugging distressed man after talking him off bridge. Cop stops suicidal man from jumping off ledge, hugs him.

WATCH: Cop Talks Man From Jumping Off Bridge And Then Gives Him A Hug, Raleigh, North Carolina

Powerful video shows a Raleigh police officer's act of compassion Wednesday evening. It happened on the Beltline over Wade Avenue just after 7 p.m. when police got a call about a man who was hanging over the edge of the bridge.

Obviously, the man was in distress and needed help. Police tell us the officer was off duty and headed home, but he stopped and reached out to the man and developed a rapport with him.

After a short period of time, the man agreed to come off the bridge. That's when the officer hugged the man for quite some time, then walked the man back to a car.