CLEVELAND — Months ago, Cleveland Division of Police Det. Chris Porter's girlfriend, Stephanie Martinez, suggested a marriage proposal at her Police Academy graduation.
His reaction?
"I had to be kind of harsh and said 'No, that's a terrible idea!' I felt bad telling her that her idea was terrible, because it was my idea, but I had to do it so I could hopefully surprise her," Porter said.
Martinez may prove to be a good detective too. She picked up on some clues.
"Once his mom told me to get my nails done, I said, 'Chris, are you going to ask me to be your wife?' And he says 'No, your graduation is your day' and he lied to me," Martinez says smiling.
However, her graduation day went as expected on Monday. She took her oath from Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. She watched her classmates accept certificates of merit and then joined them to accept her diploma.
Just when she thought it was over, she heard her name called back up for special recognition.
She had a sense of someone behind her. A big clue: The audience erupted in cheers.
Porter dropped to one knee and asked her to turn around. She, of course, accepted the diamond engagement ring he was holding.
The two met at a barbershop at headquarters where Porter had his weekly haircut.
Detective Porter comes from a law enforcement family. His stepbrother, officer David Fahey, was taken in the line of duty by a hit and run driver in 2017.
Both of his parents were police too.
"I've lived it I kind of see how the relationship can be and how you have to separate the work," Porter said.
Martinez is the first police officer in her family, but she felt called to the job.
"Growing up, I saw a lot of domestic violence in my household so I knew wanted to become a police officer and get into the DV unit," she said.
She'll start her career in the Cleveland Division of Police's Second District Tuesday.
Porter works in the employee assistance unit, focused on programs to help alleviate the stress police officers deal with.
"Stephanie sees the stress that's in store for her and I'm glad that I can be there for her pretty much 24 hours a day, I have the skills from that unit to help her throughout her career," Porter said.
"He's just always there for me, I love it," Martinez added.
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