NYPD Officer's Charity Act Goes Viral

[DIYPatriot]

Some of you may have seen this story making its rounds. For those that haven't, I found it quite compelling. The cool part of the story, to me, is that the person that snapped the photo is a seasoned LEO from Arizona who was on vacation with her husband.

"It was extremely cold out, and ... you could see the blisters from like 10, 15 feet away," DePrimo told CNN on Friday morning. "He was a gentleman when I had spoken to him, and I knew I had to help him."

Article

[Team Sergeant]

I read the article and am not surprised. I have friends that are LEO's and this sort of behavior happens everyday.

New York police Officer Larry DePrimo is a fine example of what it is to be human.

[PSM]

While I applaud Officer DePrimo's altruism, I wonder if those boots are still on the recipient's feet. I'd suspect that they were sold or stolen. In some areas, they may cost him his life. Just saying.

Pat

[DIYPatriot]

Originally Posted by PSM

While I applaud Officer DePrimo's altruism, I wonder if those boots are still on the recipient's feet. I'd suspect that they were sold or stolen. In some areas, they may cost him his life. Just saying.

Pat

I see what you're saying and can't blame you at all. To me, it doesn't matter where they are. My hope is that a man with blistered feet felt the compassion from another person, if for a fleeting second or longer. When I was working in Nuevo Laredo, I befriended a VERY poor family (by Nuevo Laredo standards) and gave them some things. About a year later, I returned and one of the kids still had my soccer jersey and other gear. And boy, was that stuff worn out! It felt good to give, but even better to see those things used and appreciated.

[PSM]

Originally Posted by DIYPatriot

To me, it doesn't matter where they are. My hope is that a man with blistered feet felt the compassion from another person, if for a fleeting second or longer.

Really?

Pat

[DIYPatriot]

Originally Posted by PSM

Really?

I misspoke. It does matter. No one wants scammed and I didn't clarify that. If two police officers felt compelled to do something for this guy, after having observed him, then that's good enough for me.

After all, this was about an officer doing what he thought was in the best interest of this homeless man. He did it quietly and professionally. I admire folks like that.

[medic&commo]

It's gratifying to hear stories like this. We know there are many people like Officer DePrimo, but not near enough good news is ever widely publicized.
m&c

[afchic]

Originally Posted by PSM

While I applaud Officer DePrimo's altruism, I wonder if those boots are still on the recipient's feet. I'd suspect that they were sold or stolen. In some areas, they may cost him his life. Just saying.

Pat

Do you feel he should have done nothing?

There have been many times I have given money to people on the street when they have asked for help. I have even filled the gas tank of strangers. Others have told me I was being too soft. That the money would be spent on booze, etc. But in my mind that is the recipient's issue not mine. I hope they use it wisely, but if they don't, they don't. I always fall back on "whatsoever you do, to the least of my people, that you do unto me".

[PSM]

Originally Posted by afchic

Do you feel he should have done nothing?

“Feel” seems to be the operative word in this thread. The officer “feels” good for having helped a shoeless man. People made the story viral because it's a “feel-good” story. To re-word a proverb: "Give a man a fish and you will feel good about yourself. Teach a man to fish and you will display wisdom for others to emulate."

For Officer DePrimo, perhaps a wiser choice would have been to get the man to a shelter where even more of his needs could be addressed.

Originally Posted by afchic

There have been many times I have given money to people on the street when they have asked for help. I have even filled the gas tank of strangers. Others have told me I was being too soft. That the money would be spent on booze, etc. But in my mind that is the recipient's issue not mine. I hope they use it wisely, but if they don't, they don't.

Do you truly feel good giving money to someone so that they can further indulge in the behavior that destroyed their lives?

Originally Posted by afchic

I always fall back on "whatsoever you do, to the least of my people, that you do unto me".

“For I was shoeless and you shod me. I was in need of shelter, and you left me, feeling good about yourself.” Hmmm. Doesn't fit somehow.

Pat

[afchic]

Originally Posted by PSM

“Feel” seems to be the operative word in this thread. The officer “feels” good for having helped a shoeless man. People made the story viral because it's a “feel-good” story. To re-word a proverb: "Give a man a fish and you will feel good about yourself. Teach a man to fish and you will display wisdom for others to emulate."

For Officer DePrimo, perhaps a wiser choice would have been to get the man to a shelter where even more of his needs could be addressed.



Do you truly feel good giving money to someone so that they can further indulge in the behavior that destroyed their lives?



“For I was shoeless and you shod me. I was in need of shelter, and you left me, feeling good about yourself.” Hmmm. Doesn't fit somehow

Pat

I certainly don't do it to feel better about myself. I do it because it is the right thing to do. Just like buying someone a healthy meal, or providing them with a coat when they are cold. Not everyone on the street is there because of substance abuse. Maybe someone needed the 20 I gave them so their child could eat that night.

[Ape Man]

Pat,

In the long run, we are all dead and nothing we do is going to change that. Does that mean that every act of kindness we do for each other is vain because it will never prevent death?

I could understand your point of view better if he gave the guy money. But giving the guy a pair of boots on a really cold night is as close to addressing the guy's real needs as he could get.

I get that the guy's life is not going to change and that he is still going to die living a messed up life. But in the end we all are all going to die and few of us have it all together. And at least one man went a cold night with boots on instead of bare feet.

Money has been wasted on much worse.

[MR2]

Originally Posted by PSM

“Feel” seems to be the operative word in this thread.

To re-word a proverb: "Give a man a fish and you will feel good about yourself. Teach a man to fish and you will display wisdom for others to emulate."

Nicely done.

[PSM]

Originally Posted by Ape Man

Does that mean that every act of kindness we do for each other is vain...?

I'm just pointing out that, regardless of the intent, actions have consequences.

Presumably, unless shoeless John Doe was Cody Lundin, he had shoes at some point. What happened to those?

Geez, except for MR2, I'm not "feeling" much love here.

Pat

[Ape Man]

Originally Posted by PSM

I'm just pointing out that, regardless of the intent, actions have consequences.

Presumably, unless shoeless John Doe was Cody Lundin, he had shoes at some point. What happened to those?

Geez, except for MR2, I'm not "feeling" much love here.

Pat

I have a pretty good idea of how Mr. John Doe got in a situation without shoes. Knowing what I do, it would not surprise me if he had recently been kicked out of a mental institution to free up a bed. There has been a lot of that going on in the last year or so in New York. Seen a lot of them get kicked out firsthand myself.

Perhaps it is a matter of perspective. I grew up in a poor family that a lot of people could have constructed lots of arguments of why it was pointless to help. But I am still grateful for the people who did.

It is better in the long run to teach everyone to swim. But when someone is drowning (or freezing in the cold) sometimes all you can do is try to keep their head above water.

[ZonieDiver]

Originally Posted by PSM

I'm just pointing out that, regardless of the intent, actions have consequences.

Presumably, unless shoeless John Doe was Cody Lundin, he had shoes at some point. What happened to those?

Geez, except for MR2, I'm not "feeling" much love here.

Pat

You climbed out on that limb, buddy, not me!

That said... when this story first broke - perhaps due the quality of the picture, or the fact it was taken by the Director of Commnuications of the Pinal County (AZ) Sheriff's Office (see Paul Babeau), my 'Spidey Sense' tingled a bit. It still does.

And, disregarding that, there is merit to what PSM says. A $100 pair if thermal boots could attract predators where a cheap pair of 'running shoes' (I pay $25 for my Avias) might not.

It IS a jungle out there.