The department posted the photo on its Facebook page and within 48 hours it had been viewed 1.6 million times and attracted 275,000 likes and more than 16,000 comments. Officer Deprimo was not even aware that a picture had been taken until it went viral on Facebook.
Once identified, Deprimo said that he kept the receipt from the shoes in his pocket as a reminder that there is always someone out there who has it worse that you. Deprimo said the homeless man had blisters all over his feet and he was walking on his heels in the bitter cold. After a quick discussion, he learned the man wore a size 12 and he walked into the store to make the purchase. Deprimo said the man was “the most polite gentleman I had met…” Deprimo offered him a cup of coffee but said that, “as soon as the boots were on him, he went on his way, and I just went back to my post.”
Imagine what a better place society would be if everyone committed small random acts of kindness.