That’s when a tourist witnessed an NYPD officer giving a homeless man without shoes — and with blistered feed — a pair of winter boots. The photo taken of the scene, unbeknown to the officer at the time, has since gone viral.
The cellphone photo of Officer Lawrence DePrimo, snapped by Jennifer Foster of Florence, Ariz., on Nov. 14, has been made it onto news sites and blogs around the world. The photo posted on the NYPD’s official Facebook page has been liked more than 315,000 times and shared more than 74,000 times. According to the New York Times, as of Wednesday evening it had been viewed by more than 1.6 million people.
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20 comments:
No apologies here...
This one act of kindness does not make up for the thousands of daily "stop and frisks", "brutality and murder" these chump cops commit every day. Truth be told, this cop probably should be in jail for the crimes he's committed.
Once again, that "hero" label is being used very loosely. While I have the greatest of admiration and utmost respect for this officer and his gesture, does anyone else see something wrong in being called a "hero" for just doing the right thing? It is nothing less than a statement on the morals of today that when someone performs a simple, humane, and caring act they are labeled a hero and are on every single talk show discussing the deed.
I would hope that if it would've been I that supplied that poor man with shoes, and the press wanted interviews about my "heroic" act, that I would say to them, "The guy was cold and just needed shoes. Now everybody just go away."
I wish that the caring, sensitive, and very humane police officer would've taken that high road instead of going on national TV.
Once again, that "hero" label is being used very loosely. While I have the greatest of admiration and utmost respect for this officer and his gesture, does anyone else see something wrong in being called a "hero" for just doing the right thing? It is nothing less than a statement on the morals of today that when someone performs a simple, humane, and caring act they are labeled a hero and are featured on every single talk show discussing the deed.
I would hope that if it would've been I that supplied that poor man with shoes, and the press wanted interviews about my "heroic" act, that I would say to them, "The guy was cold and just needed shoes. Now everybody just go away."
I wish that the caring, sensitive, and very humane police officer would've taken that high road instead of going on national TV.
Wow, this is just awsome. For those prior posters; get a grip.
8:14
Your using the term "awesome"(or 'awsome' as you say) to describe this gesture is EXACTLY my point.
Since when are random acts of kindness considered awesome?
I've changed flat tires for stranded little old ladies, so I'm awesome?
I do volunteer work for as many charities as possible. I'm awesome?
I take in my neighbors trash cans if they're away. I'm really awesome, right?
Hell no!
By just following and practicing The Golden Rule does NOT warrant the word 'hero' or 'awesome'. It's just simply what your parents raised you to do and what society asks you to do It's only the right thing to do.
Get it?
I worked with NYPD for 20 yrs, and they are the FINEST at what they do...
Oh by the way 6:57 you sir are a Fn MORON.
6:57 , Did you read the post you D-bag? Someone who noticed what was going on snapped the pix and posted it --the officer did not solicit any media attention.
That is most certainly one of the greatest acts of kindness...I don't think hero is what I would call him but he runs a close second to one...how many people walked by this gentleman and did NOTHING...this cop ranks right up there with the BEST in my book...he deserved the media attention he got...hopefully some light maybe shed on what a act of kindness is because so many of us have forgotten..and that's a fact!!!
But for the grace of GOD their we are on the street with no shoes on a cold winters night. I thank GOD that I have warm shoes and socks. I imagine the officer does too. :)
To Paul Adams and 9:55AM:
Wow...Thanks for setting me straight by calling me a "moron" and a "D-bag". I now understand where I'm wrong in my view of all this hoopla about a wonderful and selfless act of kindness by The Finest in NY.
I have a favor to ask of you both, tho': Over the past few weeks I have solicited my neighbors (as I do every year) to donate old - but wearable - winter coats for the seasonal clothing drive for the needy. I've collected about 30 so far. Usually I get about 50 to donate each Christmas Season for the past 10 years or so.
Could you guys call all the newspapers and TV media for me and let them know? Maybe you could take a picture of my doing this? Because for all these years, I just thought I was only doing the "RIGHT THING" by quietly and anonymously helping less fortunate people in our community. But according to you, I'm wrong! I'm a freakin' HERO! I'll get to be on the Today Show!
I have a feeling that Mr. Moron and Mr. D-Bag are both the types of people that believe that what should be an inherent act of compassion and charity should bring a reward much higher than the wonderful feeling one receives when they give of themselves. That's not charity. That's self-promotion.
I'm not taking away anything from this compassionate police officer. I'm just amazed that by today's standards an act such as his is not considered the norm, but is considered national news.
If you don't get my point by now, then you guys are the morons.
12:12 PM
I tend to agree with you now after I seen pic of the cop and sharonn osbourne? on tv.
too much is being made of this generous and charitable act.
He did a good thing. Wonderful. More people should. Let's not make him a saint for what others do without being a 'hero'.
And people wonder why society is becoming more cynical every day. A rare story of a good deed, and look at the comments it brings out. 12:12, a woman happened to take this picture, it became a big deal, and he accepted an offer to appear on the Today Show...graciously, it would seem. How does any of this take away from his act of simple kindness? Your negative attitude is at odds with your description of yourself as a good samaritan.
"...a rare story of a good deed..." No wonder I'm cynical about today's moral society.
12:12 sounds like your your doing some self promoting.
Looks like 12:12 needs a tissue,we all do good gestures from time to time, just like you are doing with your charity work but don't make such a nice gesture so minimal, that officer paid for the boots out of his pocket they where not given to him free to give to the homeless man, so grow up and stop complaining.
Grow up? I'm 71. I guess I just remember a time that giving a donation - a pair of boots to a needy, homeless, barefoot, homeless man - was not front page news.
You think I may be - or consider myself - a "good samaritan"? That's where we differ on this discussion. The little I do is done because it SHOULD be done. Live by the Golden Rule and you'll live a beautiful life, with no reward except for some personal satifaction that you may have made a difference.
606 time you got a job at walmart to give you something too do.
I would...But it's hard to hold down a steady job when commuting between my home in Fenwick Island and my beach house in Sanibel every couple of months. My retired life is very tough...
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