Sometimes the law is black and white, but humanity is grey

Humanity

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Posted by 

Manoj Krishna Shrestha

 

7h

Sometimes the law is black and white, but humanity is grey.

Officer Miller responded to a call at a local grocery store. The manager had caught a shoplifter.

When Officer Miller arrived, he expected to see a teenager stealing candy or a professional thief. Instead, he saw an elderly man, about 80 years old, sitting on a bench in the security office, looking at the floor.

"He tried to walk out with a loaf of bread, a carton of eggs, and a small bag of dog food," the manager said. "We have a zero-tolerance policy. I want to press charges."

Officer Miller looked at the items. The total value was maybe $12.

He sat down next to the old man. "Sir, why did you do this?"

The old man’s hands were shaking. "My social security check was late," he whispered. "I haven't eaten in two days. And my dog... my dog is hungry. I can handle the hunger, but I couldn't watch him look at me like that anymore."

Officer Miller looked at the old man’s worn-out shoes and his thin jacket. He thought about his own grandfather.

Officer Miller stood up and turned to the manager. "I'll take it from here."

He walked the old man to the checkout counter. The manager thought he was escorting him out.

But Officer Miller stopped. He took the bread, the eggs, and the dog food. Then he added a rotisserie chicken, milk, vegetables, and a large bag of high-quality dog food.

He pulled out his own credit card and paid for everything.

"Sir, you are not going to jail today," Officer Miller told the old man. "You are going home to feed your dog."

The old man started to weep right in the middle of the store. "Why?" he sobbed. "I broke the law."

"Sometimes the law is black and white," Officer Miller said. "But humanity is grey. We take care of our elders in this town."

Officer Miller drove the man home and helped him put the groceries away. He gave the man his personal cell number. "Next time you’re hungry, don't steal," Miller said. "Call me."

The police department posted the photo of the receipt. It went viral, reminding everyone that policing isn't just about making arrests; it's about making a difference.

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