Interesting Sequel To The Kind Hearted Gesture Of A Stranger

[bonnie]

Wonder if this officer will think twice about reacting from the heart the next time he encounters a cold,homeless man?

I hope not,but part of "you owe me" society we live in

Jeffrey Hillman, New York City Homeless Man, Barefoot Again After Officer Larry DePrimo Bought Him Boots

AP | Posted: 12/03/2012 9:00 am EST Updated: 12/03/2012

Jeffrey Hillman, New York City homeless man who got boots from Officer Larry DePrimo, is without shoes again.

NEW YORK -- The New York City homeless man – whose gift of boots from an NYPD police officer became an online sensation – is back on the streets with no shoes.

The New York Times ( http://nyti.ms/UjCGbY ) found him Sunday night wandering barefoot in Manhattan. The paper identified him as Jeffrey Hillman, formerly of South Plainfield, N.J.

Asked about the $100 all-weather boots Officer Larry DePrimo gave him on Nov. 14, Hillman says he's hidden them because "they are worth a lot of money."

He says he's grateful for the gift, but he wants "a piece of the pie" because the photo was posted online "without permission."

An Arizona tourist snapped the photo of the officer presenting new boots to Hillman. It went viral after it was posted on the NYPD's Facebook page.

___

[Gibs]

He'll put back on in a few days when it gets cold enough. The officer who gave them may feel chagrinned but need not be as he will be as blessed as the homeless fellow. No way to make a dime can ya blame em for not wanting a piece of the money made on airing of his misfortune?

Sad in a way but the poor guy is only proving his point.

[bonnie]

He'll put back on in a few days when it gets cold enough. The officer who gave them may feel chagrinned but need not be as he will be as blessed as the homeless fellow. No way to make a dime can ya blame em for not wanting a piece of the money made on airing of his misfortune?

Sad in a way but the poor guy is only proving his point.

No the guy is trying to take advantage of the kindness of another.He may have them to put on and then again they may have been sold for booze or drugs.

We have no idea why or if he didn't have a way of making a dime.

Besides there was not any money to be made,unless of course he thinks by more publicity that he can turn it into contributions

[M. T. Cross]

Could very well be that he suffers from some kind of mental illness. I had the same gut reaction when I first read that Bonnie, but he may truly think they are to "rich" for him and that he could get mugged for them.

I would guess there is a great deal we don't know about the man and his stability.

[phkrause]

Could very well be that he suffers from some kind of mental illness. I had the same gut reaction when I first read that Bonnie, but he may truly think they are to "rich" for him and that he could get mugged for them.

I would guess there is a great deal we don't know about the man and his stability.

I 100% agree with your opinion EC, makes a lot of sense.

[bonnie]

Could very well be that he suffers from some kind of mental illness. I had the same gut reaction when I first read that Bonnie, but he may truly think they are to "rich" for him and that he could get mugged for them.

I would guess there is a great deal we don't know about the man and his stability.

Very true.The fact that he recognizes the publicity about him

and the gift he was given and then wants "his piece of the pie"

indicates he is reasoning fairly well.

Yes,he could think they were to rich for him and have sold them.Then you take the money and buy a cheap pair.

Those suffering from mental illness aren't usually so savvy when it comes to trying to turn publicity into cash

[Guest]

Next time just take the man to the liquor store, and cut out the middlemen?

Come out cheaper too!

[M. T. Cross]

Those suffering from mental illness aren't usually so savvy when it comes to trying to turn publicity into cash

You never met my mother.........

True for a lot of cases, but those that suffer from paranoia will be overly savvy and errmmm...... paranoid about stuff like that. When I lived in Vancouver I met witnessed homeless people freaking out about their picture being taken a number of times.

Please note that I am not saying any of this as fact because I don't know any more about the man than what I have read in the news. I am just throwing out some random speculation, looking at the flip side, playing devils advocate etc.

[Gibs]

I suppose it is natural to think the guy a bum and a boozer but we don't know. Poverty and homelessness comes on to may decent men you can be sure and it will happen very soon to many of us.

For me if I weren't wearing them there boots they'd have been in my hands when the ground got rough and the snow and ice made them old feet cold.

Maybe his poor old feet were too sore to stand to wear em much, but he coulda said so but people are funny including the likes of you and I.

[Guest]

people are funny including the likes of you and I.

That's true Gibs..

[bonnie]

You never met my mother.........

[Naomi]

Could very well be that he suffers from some kind of mental illness. I had the same gut reaction when I first read that Bonnie, but he may truly think they are to "rich" for him and that he could get mugged for them.

I would guess there is a great deal we don't know about the man and his stability.

Working with street people is walking a tight rope, I have been told that the majority (I believe approx 80%) suffer from some type of mental illness.

Intellect can come and go ... who knows what he has been told and if he can discern the difference.

The important thing is that the young officer did the right thing. It's not how the receiver responds to the gift but the intentions of the giver ... if the officer received a blessing from doing something humane and thoughtful that is all that is important...at least in my opinion. Sometimes we just have to play it forward. We can never control, nor should we, what is in another's mind. just sayin.......

[bonnie]

Working with street people is walking a tight rope, I have been told that the majority (I believe approx 80%) suffer from some type of mental illness.

Intellect can come and go ... who knows what he has been told and if he can discern the difference.

The important thing is that the young officer did the right thing. It's not how the receiver responds to the gift but the intentions of the giver ... if the officer received a blessing from doing something humane and thoughtful that is all that is important...at least in my opinion. Sometimes we just have to play it forward. We can never control, nor should we, what is in another's mind. just sayin.......

You are absolutely right.That is why I started the sequel story with......

Wonder if this officer will think twice about reacting from the heart the next time he encounters a cold,homeless man?

I hope not,but part of "you owe me" society we live in

This is part of a previous discussion on the evil rich and they are responsible for all the poverty in the world. If we could only take more of their earnings and give to the poor,we would somehow eliminate poverty.

Most of us that fall on hard times do not learn how to be self sufficient by the labors of others given to us repeatedly. There is a two part process that should happen.

One part can do and do and do and still only take care of the immediate problem,if the other part doesn't or can't do his part,even if only a small step.

There is so much enthusiasm for bashing others over the plight of someone else.

There are many homeless that given half a chance will take that chance and run with it. There are just as many that will not. Those that won't are blamed on the rich having all the money so "what can they do"?

The mentally ill cannot be cared for unless they agree.The man without shoes can only be helped as long as he takes that small act of kindness and does something with it. Yet,if a picture were taken of a PO walking past this cold,barefoot man without a care,it would set of the "bash the rich crowd"

Unless he takes some action himself,he is going to remain barefoot

[bonnie]

It turns out the homeless, barefoot man who captured the hearts of thousands isn’t actually homeless. Jeffrey Hillman, the recipient of a pair of boots given by a good samaritan New York City police officer, has an apartment in the Bronx, officials told the New York Daily News.

According to the Daily News, the 54-year-old Hillman lived in transitional housing sites called “Safe Havens,” from 2009 until 2011. He then secured his current apartment through a Department of Veterans Affairs program that helps homeless vets. Barbara Brancaccio, a spokeswoman for the city agency, told the Daily News that outreach services continue to try and help Hillman, but he “has a history of turning down services.”

After New York City Police Officer Larry DePrimo spotted Hillman barefoot on the street in November, the cop went and bought the man a pair of warm boots. DePrimo's act of kindness was photographed by a passerby and posted online, where it went viral and drew attention to both men.

A New York Times reporter caught up with Hillman on Sunday night and found that he was barefoot once again. The veteran told the reporter that he had hidden the shoes DePrimo had given him because, "They are worth a lot of money.” According to the Times, Hillman also said that he appreciated the handout, but that he wants "a piece of the pie" from the viral photo of DePrimo's good deed, since it was posted to the Internet without his permission.

"Shelter and a pair of shoes are a start,” Muzzy Rosenblatt, executive director of Bowery Residents Committee, told NBC New York, “but easy access to quality services is critical to helping people reclaim their lives.”

Hillman's relatives were shocked to learn from news reports just how dire his living conditions are. They said they remain willing to take him in and help him out.

“Jeffrey has his own life, and he has chosen that life, but he knows that our hearts and home are always open to him,” Alegra Hall, Hillman’s niece, told the New York Post earlier this week. “He knows that, he’s well aware of that.”

Others close to Hillman refuse to give up on him. When Rev. John Graf Jr. learned of his old friend’s situation, he pledged to help by setting up a "Jeffrey Hillman Survivors Fund."

“It’s not fair, but a lot of things in life aren’t fair,” Graf told the Daily News. “But I’m not going to sit back and just let him be another homeless person.”

While Hillman’s story hasn’t unfolded with the happy ending supporters may have hoped for, observers say it shouldn’t detract from DePrimo's original kindness.

[OzarkWoman]

Judge not lest ye be judged!!!

[bonnie]

Judge not lest ye be judged!!!

I am not judging this man.It simply points out that the dire straights of one person is not because of a lack in the "evil rich"

If he is rational he is responsible for what he does with the

aid he is given.

If he is not rational and unless perceived as a danger to others or imminent danger to himself he cannot be helped in a lasting way