# NY Cop Buys Boots for Homeless Man **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 2, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716 "2012-12-02T00:03:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/1 "2012-12-02T00:03:35Z")
I didn’t see a thread on this, but it deserves mention. A cop in Times Square bought a pair of boots for a shoeless homeless man shivering in the cold last month. Story and photo [here](http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/349659/28/New-York-police-officer-buys-boots-for-homeless-man-in-Times-Square). I first saw this on BBC TV. The photo in the link has gone viral. It was taken by an Arizona tourist. The cynic in me immediately thought it may have been staged, but after hearing the full report, no, I don’t think it was staged. Not mentioned in the linked story but reported on BBC is the fact that the boots were going to cost $100, but when the store learned what they were for, they knocked 25% off the price. Ah, I just found a [New York Times story](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/nyregion/photo-of-officer-giving-boots-to-barefoot-man-warms-hearts-online.html?_r=1&) on it too. Good job, Officer DePrimo. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/2 "2012-12-02T00:17:50Z")
Can’t imagine trying to go barefoot in NYC in December. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/3 "2012-12-02T00:28:49Z")
It was mid-November actually. But close enough! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/4 "2012-12-02T00:31:06Z")
He’s such a good boy! His folks should be proud. ---
**Author:** ![andrewbub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@andrewbub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewbub)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/5 "2012-12-02T00:36:09Z")
calling bullshit on the $100 cost of a pair of boots from skechers. but it’s a good reminder that cops are humans too, i’m impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/6 "2012-12-02T00:42:40Z")
> [@andrewbub](#): > > calling bullshit on the $100 cost of a pair of boots from skechers. I don’t know which style he purchased, but [here](http://www.skechers.com/style/63536/moyer/brn) is a pair of men’s cold-weather boots for $103. So, yes, it’s possible to spend that much at that store. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/7 "2012-12-02T00:47:17Z")
> [@andrewbub](#): > > calling bullshit on the $100 cost of a pair of boots from skechers. > > but it’s a good reminder that cops are humans too, i’m impressed. [Google shopping search.](https://www.google.com/search?q=skechers+boots&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=skechers+boots&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=xfJ&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ei=pqS6ULCOPKbEigLkxoCoAw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAA&fp=1&bpcl=39314241&biw=1514&bih=813&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&cad=b&sei=pqS6ULCOPKbEigLkxoCoAw) ---
**Author:** ![andrewbub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@andrewbub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewbub)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/8 "2012-12-02T01:57:52Z")
i stand corrected, and my mind is currently being blown by the price of a pair of skechers. i guess those ass-exercising shoes they sold a ton of made them think they’re a real shoe brand. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/9 "2012-12-02T02:08:47Z")
I heard an interview with the person who took the photo. She is (I believe) a civilian member of the police force, and she said something like “our duty is to protect and serve, and this is where the protect comes in.” I thought that was a very nice statement. She also said that things like this happen all the time without public knowledge. For all the cop bashing that goes on when one rogue cop is filmed doing something dumb, I’d like to think that overall they are public servants and really do want to make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/10 "2012-12-02T03:57:27Z")
> [@andrewbub](#): > > i stand corrected, and my mind is currently being blown by the price of a pair of skechers. i guess those ass-exercising shoes they sold a ton of made them think they’re a real shoe brand. Not meaning to hijack the thread, but I bought my ass-exercising shoes because my surgeon told me to. $100 for the most comfortable pair of walking shoes I’ve ever worn. They have been my daily shoes for a year now. I used to pay 20 bucks for a pair of Target shoes that weren’t nearly as comfortable and throw them out after about 3 months. IMHO, they are worth the money. Back to the cop. I’m glad that pic went viral. Usually, we only hear about the bad things, not all of the help and acts of kindness that Law Enforcement people do. Nobody takes pics of a Sheriff changing someone’s tire. They don’t take pics of a Police Officer giving a tramatized child a stuffed toy. That doesn’t sell. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/11 "2012-12-02T04:04:09Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I heard an interview with the person who took the photo. She is (I believe) a civilian member of the police force, and she said something like “our duty is to protect and serve, and this is where the protect comes in.” If this is part of their job, shouldn’t the department be paying for it? I don’t see this as a police thing. This is a person thing. Lawrence DePrimo here is a good guy, not a “good cop” (though I hope and presume he is that, too). ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/12 "2012-12-02T05:15:11Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > If this is part of their job, shouldn’t the department be paying for it? > > I don’t see this as a police thing. This is a person thing. Lawrence DePrimo here is a good guy, not a “good cop” (though I hope and presume he is that, too). Why are you asking me? I’m just paraphrasing what I heard in the interview. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/13 "2012-12-02T05:18:50Z")
I’m not. It was to the woman you quoted–critiquing her characterization of this act as being part of his role as a police officer. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/14 "2012-12-02T05:44:28Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > I’m not. It was to the woman you quoted–critiquing her characterization of this act as being part of his role as a police officer. I think it was along the lines of, “this is why we become police officers, to serve” or something like that. This guy is so getting laid. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/15 "2012-12-03T04:08:58Z")
It made me sob. That somebody should need such a basic thing (here in the US.!! And nobody cared.) And that giving it to them would be so unusual as to go VIRAL. I knew officers who were that kind. Nobody writes about them. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/16 "2012-12-03T05:15:54Z")
Update: there’s an article in today’s NY Times online. The headline says that the guy is barefoot again and that he’s put the shoes in a safe place. Sorry, no link. I couldn’t bear to read the article it’s that sad to me. This man must be in such a mental state… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/17 "2012-12-03T06:21:17Z")
[Here](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/nyregion/barefoot-homeless-man-says-hes-grateful-for-boots.html)’s the new article. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/18 "2012-12-03T10:13:28Z")
Geez. Well, there’s only so much you can do I guess. At least Officer DePrimo tried. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/19 "2012-12-03T10:56:11Z")
Oh. Now it’s multi-dimensional sadness. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716/20 "2012-12-03T14:48:18Z")
Shoe me once, shame on… shame on me… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-cop-buys-boots-for-homeless-man/642716.md?page=2)