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A very touching photo A photo of a New York City police officer kneeling down to give a barefoot homeless man in Times Square a pair of boots on a cold November night is melting even the iciest New Yorkers' hearts online. On Nov. 14, NYPD officer Lawrence DePrimo, who was on counterterrorism duty in Times Square, saw the older homeless man without shoes sitting on 42nd Street. DePrimo, 25, left and then returned with a pair of $100 boots he bought at a nearby Skechers store. "It was freezing out, and you could see the blisters on the man's feet," DePrimo, a three-year veteran of the department who lives with his parents on Long Island, told the New York Times. "I had two pairs of socks, and I was still cold." The random act of kindness was captured by Jennifer Foster, a tourist from Florence, Ariz., who was visiting the city. Foster, communications director for the Pinal County Sheriff's Office in Arizona, emailed the photo to the NYPD with a note commending DePrimo. "The officer said, 'I have these size 12 boots for you, they are all-weather. Let's put them on and take care of you,'" Foster wrote. "The officer squatted down on the ground and proceeded to put socks and the new boots on this man. "I have been in law enforcement for 17 years," she continued. "I was never so impressed in my life. ... It is important, I think, for all of us to remember the real reason we are in this line of work. The reminder this officer gave to our profession in his presentation of human kindness has not been lost." Foster's photo was posted on the NYPD's Facebook page on Tuesday, where it received more than 320,000 "likes," 77,000 "shares" and 20,000 comments—most of them praising DePrimo, who seems to have restored Facebook's faith in humanity. "This is one hell of a police officer," Desiree Wright-Borden wrote. "Wow," Jack Horton wrote. "It's nice to know there are still good people out there." "Angels truly do walk on earth!!!" Charlene Hoffman-Pestell wrote. Some commenters, though, were skeptical, saying the photo could have been staged. "Clever stunt!" Louis Zehmke wrote. "The hobo is 'parked' at the entrance of a shoe shop." But Foster claims DePrimo had no idea he was being photographed: "The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching." My comment: Help the people in need is more important than donate tithing to church, temple, mosque, synagogue, ....... to worship their God. This NYC police gave the homeless man a pair of boots is more than Romney donated million dollars for his religion. The police even don't claim for deduction from his income tax return (Schedule A) God doesn't need MONEY, human do. I went to Salt Lake City in Utah and visited Mormon Temple Square three times. The tour guide showed us that he dropped a stick but the people in the back can hear it because the copper pillars in the front. Why people need to build beautiful and expensive church, temple, mosque, synagogue, .... for God? If God is so mighty, he can hear our prayer everywhere, including at bedside. I don't have any objection to claim income tax for , but helping people in need is much more meaningful. That's my point. This NYC policeman helped the person in need is a touching story.  Honesty is the best policy. |
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The homeless man is NOT homeless after all. The homeless man who was given a pair of boots by a kindhearted New York City police officer apparently isn't homeless. According to the New York Daily News, Jeffrey Hillman, 54, has an apartment in the Bronx that is paid for via a combination of rent vouchers, Social Security, and military veteran benefits. Hillman was spotted around New York City, again barefoot. Those shoes are hidden," Hillman told the New York Times. "They are worth a lot of money—I could lose my life." The Daily News reports that various city organizations have attempted to help Hillman. Barbara Brancaccio, a spokesperson for the city's Homeless Service said, "He [Hillman] has a history of turning down services." The man's brother, Kirk Hillman, told the Daily News that he hasn't heard from Jeffrey since January. "We love our brother very much," Kirk Hillman said. "Our door is always open to him, but this is a lifestyle he's chosen." Jeffrey Hillman told The New York Times that he is grateful for the boots from Officer DePrimo. "I want to thank everyone that got onto this thing. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. It meant a lot to me. And to the officer, first and foremost." Honesty is the best policy.
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Human gestures of compassion should never be diminished in the honor it bestows upon the person being served... This Policeman was not concerned about himself, but the compassionate regard to be of human service to another person.. and it had nothing to do with his job, it was him as a person.. If he retains this within the service of his job, he will be the public servant that the position was designed to honor in human care for others. He will uphold the law for the public trust his position has as well as provide the services in this capacity with dignity and regard for the dignity of others. This will not imbalance him from the expanse of what actions the job itself may bring him to act upon... where it may bring situations of very grave decisions making.... but as this act he engaged, should be respected as a man, being of compassion for another man...
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