Policing and police have gotten a bad rap, often deservedly so.
But here's a story from my hometown of Mount Vernon NY, where two cops on duty went above and beyond, showing compassion and humanity that I'd like to think most cops have but that we don't often see on the news.
Two officers, Christopher Cartwright and Jason Velez, responded to a call from a store manager about a shoplifter. The cops got to the store, found the man in question and started talking with him. He admitted that he took some socks, but explained he was homeless, had no place to sleep and needed some socks because all he could do was walk around aimlessly.
Instead of arresting him, the cops took $15 out of their own pockets, bought him a few pairs of socks and then took him, voluntarily, to the police station where they helped make arrangements to find him shelter.
This is what many cops do all the time -- the little stuff we too often don't hear about.
Police are in a tough job. I'd like to think this story is more typical than the horrendous stuff we too often see on TV. Reform is needed, for sure. But let's not overlook the good community policing that many -- probably most -- cops do every day without fanfare.
Here's a link to the bodycam footage...