Because of the pandemic, most countries implemented social distancing, thus resulting in the shutdown of business establishments. Because of this, a lot of families struggled a lot to put food on their plates. Not all families were able to cope with the sudden change.

Sadly, some people had no other choice but to resort to making desperate actions just to have something to fill in their stomachs. It’s really tough to be in their shoes. Thankfully, there are kindhearted authorities who are willing to truly understand the situation.

This police officer, in particular, went above and beyond his sworn duty to help right when it was badly needed.

It all started in a call.

Five days before Christmas of last year, Somerset Police Officer Matt Lima received a call about a shoplifting incident at a Stop & Shop grocery store.

“The allegation was the two females were scanning some items at self-checkout but bypassing other items and bagging those items,” Lima told WJAR. “Dispatch indicated it was two females and two young small children and they were detained by Loss and Prevention over there.”

But when officer Lima heard that they were with two kids, it immediately tugged at his heartstrings.

“I have two girls myself, similar on age to the two girls that were there, so it kind of struck me a little bit,” he said.

Their story broke his heart into smithereens.

After arriving on the scene, Lima decided to talk to one of the adults who were accused of shoplifting. While on the side, the store employees tried to occupy the kids so that they’re far from knowing about what’s really happening.

“The woman I talked to, she explained she was working, but the mother of the children was not working and had some other family issues going on and that what she had taken was Christmas dinner for the kids,” Lima explained.

Lima was utterly devasted after hearing the woman’s story.

As it turned out, the woman was telling the truth.

It was when officer Lima checked the receipt for the items which they planned to pay for.

“There was nothing else on there like health and beauty items, shampoo, anything like that. It was all food,” he said. “I asked an employee where the other items were that they had planned to take and was informed they were put back on the shelves.”

As an implementor of the law, Lima knew he needed to punish them, but as a human being, he also knew they didn’t really wish to do what they just did.

As an action, the store issued the two women a “no trespass” order. Officer Lima, on the other hand, decided not to press charges against the women.

“Obviously, this family was in need and I can’t imagine having to make the decision to go to Stop and Shop and just only pay for what I can afford — or do I go there and try to take things for Christmas dinner for the kids?” said Lima. “They were very thankful, they were kind of shocked. I’m sure a lot of people in that same situation would be thinking that there was going to be a different outcome, and maybe they would be arrested or have to go to court.”

He sure believes in the law but he has never forgotten how to give humane treatment even to those who violated it.

Lima’s compassion didn’t stop there.

He definitely wanted to go above and beyond to help the family. The kindhearted officer decided to buy them a $250 gift card so they can buy the food that they wanted.

“I bought the gift card close in value to what would’ve been taken,” said Lima. “I just did what I felt was right. It’s not about me, I just tried to put myself in that family’s shoes and show a little bit of empathy.”

In times when police officers are oftentimes judged, officer Lima has proven to us all that we should never speak in general. He must’ve sworn an oath to implement the law, but that doesn’t overshadow his inner conscience when it comes to doing what is “right”.

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Source: My Positive Outlooks, WJAR