In Massachusetts, a Somerset Police Officer responding to a shoplifting incident, but decided that ‘the punishment didn’t fit the crime’, so he bought groceries for the suspects instead.
It was five days before Christmas when Officer Matt Lima responded to Stop & Shop responding to a report of shoplifting.
Upon his arrival, Officer Lima learned that two women with two young children had not scanned all of their groceries at the self-checkout kiosk, before exiting the store with numerous items not scanned.
Lima took the two suspects aside and learned they had fallen upon hard times and attempted to take additional groceries so they could provide a Christmas dinner for the two children.
“The mother of the children was not working and had some other family issues going on and what she had taken was Christmas dinner for the kids,” the officer told WJAR News.
Officer Lima served the two women Notice Not To Trespass forms, and refused to file criminal charges.
Lima’s boss, Chief George McNeil, said, “This incident is a true testament of Officer Lima’s great character and decision making.”
“The two children with the women reminded me of my kids, so I had to help them out,” Officer Lima said.
Officer Lima then then purchased gift cards in the amount of $250 with his own money so the women would be able to purchase groceries for their Christmas dinner at another Stop & Shop location.
WATCH: Woman Donates Kidney to the Cop Who Locked Her Up
“I would like to personally commend Officer Lima for his actions,” Chief McNeil said. “They exemplify what it means to protect and serve the members of our community. When faced with a difficult situation in which a family was trying to provide a meal for their kids, he made the generous decision to not press charges and instead ensured that they would have a Christmas dinner they could enjoy.”
Check out the local news coverage below…
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It’s Sad people don’t know the Police do this every day 24/7/365 they help and protect us all ~ Blue Lives Matter ~ Back The Blue ~
It’s not hard to understand why people have hostile feelings toward police. We see them killing defenseless people. That is what is really sad.
To Jobe and GNN… This again is an example of not seeing the big picture and understanding that our thinking minds and hearts are out of balance. Yes, police do kind things and are understanding and kind while upholding the law. But it’s also true that there are some, overcome by fear in a situation (or just ignorant about seeing all humans as just souls, like themselves. It’s yin and yang. The fact is the scale tips both ways but most of the time, we are attuned to the media which plays on people’s fears and blows up stories about horrible things that happen, like unjust police shootings..etc.. and it tips things to the negative. It feeds our thinking mind (fight or flight) and rarely offers things that open our hearts. Support the police. Just train them better and choose who becomes a police offer more carefullly.
What a brilliant move on the part of this police officer. Too often in today’s world we forget there ARE decent kind police out there. Except those are the ones that never get the publicity. They are the ones that go about their beats day in and day out, helping, caring, protecting and serving and are lumped in with all the bad apples. Congratulations to this man and to his parents for raising a great human being.