Whatever you to to the least of these, you do unto me...

That´s what I thought when I saw this photo and read the story.

What a wonderful person that officer is.

Ditto

You won´t read things like this in the MSM. You need to read the nitty-bitty news in the U.K.

Whatever you do... Sorry.

Don`t tell Bloomberg about this. He`ll ban it.

God bless that officer. I know I´m cynical but I hope the guy doesn´t sell those boots for a few bucks to spend on a habit.

#6 I thought that too. I hate myself when I get so cynical. God bless that kind officer.

Wouldn´t the more compassionate thing be to get them off the streets and into an institution where they can be treated for what ails them (drug addicition or shizophreia or both)? Unfortunately, thanks to trial lawyers we can´t do that.

When I hear someone described as a "homeless advocate" I consider them - despite their good intentions - as perpetuating the problem.

#6, #7, I don´t think you are being cynical when you are being realistic. I had the same concerns because of the reasons that people end up like the homeless man in the first place. What I thought was remarkable is that I am sure that the officer knows and understands that risk more palpably than any of us does and still got the man the boots. I hope the man wears them and keeps them too. But it´s remarkable for someone to know that might not be the case and still be so compassionate that he takes care of the problem for the present.

Certainly, the ACLU, NAACP, NOW, ACORN, SEIU or some other alphabet organization, maybe Bloomberg, can figure out a way to punish the police officer for such a kind act.

I´ve become somewhat of a cynic myself. I had an old man approach me last week in New York City and tell me that he was hungry and could I please give him some money so he could buy some food. I told him I wouldn´t give him the money, but I would buy him some food. Took him to the local McD´s on the next corner and bought him a combo meal. He wolfed it down right away, so I guess he was really hungry. It makes me angry that the left has caused me to be so cynical.

The officer and the homeless man are both responsible for their own actions.

The officer saw a need and decided he was capable of fulfilling it, so he bought the man a pair of boots. (The clerk in the store probably gave up his/her personal discount to help out, as well).

If the man now sells the boots and buys more drugs, he is responsible for that action.

I don´t see how it is up to the officer to decide how that man will react to the pair of boots. It might be equally logical that the homeless man will see it as a turning point for him and take steps to find the help he needs (and which is surely available in NYC).

God bless the officer. It´s not like he makes a fortune and can easily spend it on boots for someone he doesn´t even know.

The officer talked to the man for a bit, so maybe he had a good feeling about the man and that he wouldn´t sell the boots. It sounds like the barefoot man was really touched, so maybe he´ll be smart.

Also, kudos for the man in the store who gave the officer the employee discount.

#11 -- I´ve done that before. I lived in Central America for 2.5 years and children would often approach us to help carry our groceries. Their (usually drunk) fathers would be across the street watching (and then punishing the kids if they didn´t get enough). I got around it by saying that the kids could help (I could carry my own bags easily, but when I saw the kids were getting hit -- and hit hard -- for failing I gave in. I lived on the second floor, so I made the kids come into the courtyard, closed the gate, took the bag and made the kid wait and then would come downstairs and give them a glass of milk and a sandwich and make them eat it in front of me so the drunken father didn´t take it. I hated being so controlling, but I knew the money wouldn´t ever go to their food.