Viral Facebook Post Captures NYPD Officer Going the Extra Mile to Help a Homeless Man

One NYPD officer is proving that a simple act of kindness can go a long way.

Joshua Lagan was able to capture the kind moment while he was waiting for a train in Grand Central Terminal. In the now viral photo, Lagan said he saw two cops running towards a homeless man who was digging through the trash. While Lagan thought the cops were about to reprimand the homeless man for his actions, it was just the opposite.

The cops asked the man what he was looking for, and they expected him to say food. However, he was looking for a pair of socks.

When the officer, later identified as Frank Rendina, realized the man was trying to find enough money to buy a pair of socks, he offered to pay for them himself.

“I’ll buy you socks. It’s Christmas soon right? I’ll buy you socks for Christmas. Merry Christmas. Let’s go to the store,” Officer Rendina said, according to New York television station WNBC.

Rendina and the homeless man, Ron Brown, have known each other for a few years, so it was easy for Rendina to approve this request. Rendina previously helped Brown celebrate his birthday with a few candy bars.

Even though Rendina has gone out of his way before, Brown was still shocked by his gesture asking, “Are you serious?”

“His doctor told him he needed diabetic socks,” Rendina said. “I said, ‘No problem. For Christmas, I will make sure you get the socks.”

Lagan’s post sharing the act of kindness quickly went viral, even reaching NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill.

“Thx for taking time to post this @joshualagan. We can all learn something. I’m so proud of #NYPD cops, and of all NYers,” Commissioner O’Neill tweeted.

Found on @facebook. Thx for taking time to post this @joshualagan. We can all learn something. I'm so proud of #NYPD cops, and of all NYers. pic.twitter.com/vhoQie232e

— Jessica S. Tisch (@NYPDPC) December 6, 2016

See the full post below.