NYPD officer's act of kindness becomes viral hit

Arizona tourist Jennifer Foster snapped this picture of NYPD Officer Larry DePrimo offering a barefoot homeless man a pair of boots in Times Square, Nov. 14, which became a viral hit. / Jennifer Foster/NYPD/Facebook

NEW YORK A picture capturing a New York City police officer's random act of kindness toward a barefoot homeless man in Times Square has become an Internet hit.

Tourist Jennifer Foster, visiting the city from Arizona, snapped a shot of Officer Larry DePrimo giving the unidentified man a new pair of all-weather boots and thermal socks on a frigid night Nov. 14.

In a note to the NYPD, Foster explained that she was visiting "The Crossroads of the World" with her husband when she saw the man on the sidewalk asking for change. DePrimo offered something better.

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NYPD officer helps homeless man

"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.' ... I have been in law enforcement for 17 years. I was never so impressed in my life," she wrote.

DePrimo told the New York Times he purchased the boots at a nearby Skechers shop, which granted him an employee discount, bringing the normally $100 boots down to $75. He told the paper he's held on to the receipt in his vest to remind him "that sometimes people have it worse."

The officer told Newsday the homeless man "smiled from ear to ear. It was like you gave him a million dollars."

When the NYPD posted the photo and portions of Foster's note on its Facebook page, the reaction was quick. As of Thursday morning, the picture had generated around 330,000 likes, had been shared around 80,000 times and has received over 20,000 comments.

[GOPIN2016]

WHY IS IT WHEN WE SEE THINGS LIKE THIS IT BECOMES A BIG DEAL ? I'LL TELL YOU WHY,ITS BECAUSE ACTS LIKE THIS ARE TO FEW AND FAR APART,SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS BECOME THE EXCEPTION WHEN IT SHOULD BE THE NORM,TO FEW TIMES DOES THIS EVER HAPPEN,WE WALK BY THESE POOR PEOPLE EVERYDAY & A GOOD PORTION OF US LOOK ON THEM AS A BOTHER WE TEND TO FORGET THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS ALSO,OR MAYBE YOU MIGHT GIVE THEM A COUPLE DOLLARS DRIVE OFF TO YOUR NICE WARM HOME OPEN A CAN OF CAT OR DOG FOOD THAT YOU PAID $4.00 TO $5.00 FOR BECAUSE YOUR PET GETS THE BEST THAT YOU CAN AFFORD,WHILE THAT POOR PERSON LIES DYING IN THE STREET NEXT TO HIM LIES THE COUPLE DOLLARS YOU MIGHT HAVE GIVEN HIM,INSTEAD OF HAVING THIS SPIRIT OF GIVING JUST ONE TIME OF THE YEAR,WHY NOT HAVE IT ALL YEAR LONG,JUST SAYING

[cleric77]

Christ Himself will say on the Last Day: "As you have done it unto the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto Me." (Matthew 25:40)
The true celebration of Christmas is following the giving/loving example of Christ Jesus.

[charleylechein]

I wish there was an easy way to create an account where people can donate what they can afford, and use money from this account to carry what this s officer has done. Maybe by donations they could get a big deal off regular prices from Skechers, of which must be getting some free adv. Anyone from Skechers read these posts? I use to be able to afford them.... when I had a job, when I had my own home. Maybe I can open up a fund on Pay Pal calling it SkechersBoots4Homeless. What do you think?

[Maulee2008]

What a wonderful world!

[MomsHugs]

CBS: Please don't stop bringing us good stories like this after Christmas. People really have been beaten down with bad & sour news... they're tired of it. We need less bad news & more good news. Thanks in advance.

Officer DePrimo: Thank you for giving that man what he really needed & thank you for giving the rest of us an example of what kindness is. "You are a good man, Charlie Brown!"

[Maulee2008]

What a wonderful world!

[beckahroo]

I'm sure that Heavenly Father is going to bless this police officer and his family... with all the bad things going on in this world, it's so good to see this story. It brought tears to my eyes and a fuzzy feeling to my heart. It's wonderful to know that there are some good people in this world.

[Gloriay]

This NYPD officer deserves to be given high praise. Certain that the Commissioner, his Captain, the Mayor, and his buddies are all proud of his act of kindness. Just as they are reviled and sharply criticized when rogue police officers stop, frisk and in some cases murder innocent Black and Latino youth due to overt racism, they deserve recognition when one of their officers rises above it and shows kindness, caring, selflessness and humanity to one of it's citizens. The public ought to recognize this Police Officer and the entire NYPD for the kindness he showed to this homeless man.

[SUZAMBA]

He gave because he chose too, not because he had too and that makes all the differences. Not many would have. Finally, something positive to read about!

[nfission235]

This police officer is the epitome of what we all should be___humble and benevolent to our fellow man. This scene is humanity at it's worst(the homeless gentleman)and it's best(the officer, who deserves a merit for his kindness).

[nfission235]

I believe my comment may need some clarification. A country is failing it's citizens if anyone should ever be homeless or have to go hungry, that's what I mean by humanity at it's worst, certainly not the homeless man.

[nfission235]

RK: I agree, he didn't do it for recognition.

[GeorgiaGurl53]

"There but for the grace of God go I." Any one of us sitting in our warm homes in the light sitting at the computer while the television plays, smelling the good smells from dinner, beginning to feel drowsy knowing it's almost time to get up and slide between those clean sheets after taking a long hot shower, any one of you (or me) could be where that homeless man is tonight. You're not. Aren't you grateful enough to buy a homeless person a doughnut when you go to Starbucks and pay &5.00 for a cup of coffee? Or perhaps when you go in 7-Eleven come out with two cups instead of one and hand one to that homeless person you see every morning? How much does it really cost you to do "A random act of kindness." every once in awhile? Doesn't have to be something big or expensive; you'd be surprised at how much gratitude you can get from someone that you bring a breakfast sandwich from McDonald's to. That $1.00 sandwich is worth a thousand bucks to someone who hasn't eaten since the day before.

It doesn't matter what his profession is, the person who gave those socks and boots knows the meaning of "Pay It Forward"; if more of us learned it, there would be a lot less conflict in the world.