Here's what Sarasota Patch Facebook fans had to say about the photo Thursday as we polled them their thoughts as Sarasota is facing a policing controversy with its homeless this week: http://patch.com/A-zT71

Eric Thompson: A great lesson in how other police departments deal with their homeless community.
22 hours ago · Like · 1

Shawna Machado: First that we are all human. Second that people are not the issue. Homelessness is issue. Treat people equally and let's tackle the issue together. How can we expect that different economic classes understand what the other deals with everyday? It will take a collaborative effort. It's time for Sarasota to stand up to this issue together and show the rest of the nation solutions.
22 hours ago via mobile · Like · 2

Lindsay Smith: According to a Herald Tribune article I read earlier this year, Sarasota is known as the "meanest city" in the nation toward the homeless. I think ANYTHING taken from viewing this picture would be a valued lesson. What's wrong with harmless outdoor lodging anyway? We live is such a beautiful climate, why not lay down for a little cat-nap from time-to-time!

Pinellas Cty. FL Pay attention . Before one of YOUR acts of "kindness" is on Anderson Cooper! From one who knows.

If your homeless or just traveling thru, hell if your even a shabbilly dressed resident, avoid Madeira Beach at all costs. The ordinances must have been modeled after the Nazi Party, as all of the police officers conduct themselves like the Gestapo.

Regarding Sarasota issue on recent story. This is not about the homeless this is about someone that SPIT in the face of someone and when he was told he was under arrest to put his arms behind his back he pushed his arm out to resist detention. End of story.

BRENT, wrong..you are as wrong as the "cop" who strong armed the homeless man and threw him into the wall.. wrong is wrong! period! What you are saying is there was NO OTHER WAY for this "cop" to handle this! And I am saying YOU ARE WRONG! Enough is enough! NUFF SAID!

If we believe most of what we're told by the news, people have lost their humanity in favor of "winning" the battle of us vs them (take your pick) & it's now the "smart" favored position to have. Some of us (still the majority I believe) never bought that notion and this cop is one of them! Celebrate the good .

I cannot imagine a St. Petersburg Police Officer buying $75 boots (or 75 cent flip-flops, for that matter) for ANY homeless person. I CAN imagine a member of the SPPD BEATING many homeless persons. THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE COMMISSIONER are responsible for the Gestapo that we have in St. Petersburg. It all comes from the top who approve of such behavior. If the Gestapo of SPPD can't even be as kind as a New York City cop, what kind of place are we living, for heaven's sake???

Thanks for all the thought-provoking comments! Does anyone have a story to share about a random act of kindness that warmed your heart? Here's one I was on the receiving end of not too long ago: http://patch.com/A-sKmS

As a former NYC resident, I should point out to cheryl that the outstanding humanitarian nature of that officer is not universally found in the NYC police force, and I doubt it would be universally found in ANY police force.

Most cops are thorough professionals who perform their duties admirably, but just as there are a few outstanding humanitarians in many, there are also a few bad apples in most. If there wasn't, then there would be no need for Internal Affairs units; it's human nature.

But, there has been a sad reduction in humanitarian approaches not only within police forces, but also among politicians and even the general populace.

So, it is right to praise Officer DePrimo, and to look for other loving incidents in NYC or elsewhere that may not have been captured by a passing tourist, but it is wrong to attribute "gestapo" tactics to one department without a specific and provable basis for making such broad brush charges.

Radical charges, whether from the extreme right wing or the extreme left wing, are seldom close to the truth. Your approach is no better than that of loudmouthed louts like Rush Limbaugh.

So, a little humanitarian adjustment on your part may be in order.

All cops are public servant and should all have this kind of mentality , it's nice to see kindness.
This is a good example for others too follow and I'm sure there that do. It would be nice to hear more stories like this one.

That is an amazing story, Sherri. It warms my heart, especially having read all the comments here.

Loved the pic even before I knew the story. Then loved the story when I heard the interview with the policeman. Look down at your feet and if you have shoes on them, be thankful. That could be you on the receiving end in the blink of an eye. So glad to know the story went viral immediately. We need more good happening in our world!

The sad part is that he's actually not homeless. He has an apartment that is government subsidized. It was in the Tampa Bay Times either yesterday or today. However... kudos to the officer :-)