Pittsburgh Police Detective Who Adopted Two Boys Now Married
PITTSBURGH (CBS) -- A local detective who's dedicated his life to helping kids has officially gone from "man's man" to "family man."
Generally speaking, if you're a kid growing up in Pittsburgh, like Jesse and Josh Lyle, the last place you ever want to be is in a courtroom, across the table, from detective Jack Mook.
Mook is a by the book, no-nonsense, chew-up, spit 'em out, 22-year veteran of the force.
Outside of work he's a committed bachelor, a man's man, who would never so much as let a Vidalia see his soft-side.
For fun he hits people, and volunteers at the Steel City Boxing gym, teaching the sport to underprivileged kids.
"Most of the kids who come in this gym are street kids," Mook said. "Many of them have been born into poverty."
Kids like Jesse and his older brother Josh. Long before their date in court, Jack had been working with them. He really liked these kids and he knew the feeling was mutual. So when they just stopped showing up at the gym one day, Jack went out and found them.
"And he looked terrible, bags under his eyes, 12 years old," Mook said. "And he was asking me about it and then I just cried."
What Jack didn't know, what no one knew until that moment, was just how bad these kids had it. They were in a foster home with foster parents who Jack says were extremely abusive and neglectful.
"They have had it as worse as any other kid that's ever lived in the city of Pittsburgh, living conditions wise," Mook said. "And I had enough of it."
So Jack Mook took matters into his own hands. Cashed in some favors and got the kids placed in a new home – his.
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For Jack, it's been quite an adjustment, but he says, "It's the best thing I ever did in my life."
At least it was the best thing, until the day he went to court and did one better. Adopted the boys and made them Mooks.
After this story first aired in 2014, "On The Road" got a lot of emails, a surprising amount from women who wanted to go out with this guy.
Mook is now married, but his new wife insists she wasn't one of the women who sent an email. Mary says she met him in a bar, but she admits she went to the bar because she knew he'd be there.
Jack: Ah ha, yes, for all of America to see.
Mary: I am answering honestly.
They were married last summer. She came with 3 of her own, so now Jack and the boys are part of a Brady Bunch – a family none of them could have ever imagined just a few years ago, Jack especially.
"I thought being single was fun because you don't have any responsibilities," he said. "But when you're single, you don't realize what you're missing. I'm glad I let her break through that barrier and take me away from that life."
Sounds like it wasn't just the boys who were rescued.
