FLA cop gives admitted shoplifter $100 to buy groceries

[7962]

Source: aol.com

The central mission of police work is to uphold the law. But police officers are also human beings, and so can find themselves confronted with situations that force them to ask the question -- should I really just look the other way? As south Florida outlet WSVN reported, Florida police officer Vicki Thomas recently found herself dealing with that very dilemma when she discovered a woman was shoplifting from a supermarket simply because she couldn't afford to buy food for her children.

Thomas did arrest Jessica Robles on a theft misdemeanor charge, but opted against booking her and taking her to jail. Instead, she gave her a notice to appear in court. And then Thomas handed her $100 so she could buy more groceries.

Read more: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/10/22/florida-cop-gives-shoplifter-grocery-money/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058

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A good deed from a cop; a welcome change from what we usually read.

[frylock]

1. compare and contrast with the cop that arrested a woman for scrounging money from a fountain..

last week so that she could eat. $2.47 I believe was the grand total. good on this cop for having a heart.

[Rebellious Republican]

2. Ah this was a Florida cop, move on, nothing to bash here.

Doubt this thread thread will get much traction, no fun if you can not bash Florida or the south.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Aw, c'mon.

I think we're all capable of celebrating bright spots, wherever they occur.

I can't pretend there is no regional prejudice around here, but I think there is a growing awareness that it's not cool.

[Rebellious Republican]

9. I hope so JP, it does get old.

[Bradical79]

22. Florida authorities make it so easy though

I'm glad at least one police officer is able to make the news for doing the right thing, though not sure giving money to a hungry person can make up for the beatings, killings, and rampant political corruption over the years that gives Florida authorities a bad rep around here.

[Rebellious Republican]

25. Yep, it makes you want to .....

get up move to one of the other 49 Utopian states where everyone lives on sugar mountain.

[Skittles]

3. I hope the court system will show her compassion too

[DirkGently]

4. KNR for humanity.

[tecelote]

5. There should be more stringent laws for people that can afford to buy...

...versus those too poor to have many alternatives.

[DirkGently]

6. Cops should have more discretion to not arrest

in such situations. Tie them in with store owners with excess / expired goods and food banks.

No one should be starving in this country (nor any others, but here we have so much food).

[tblue]

7. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

No one should need to steal food. But, since many do, they should be given leniency and assistance as much as possible. It's not justice to treat them the same as just other thug.

[Gormy Cuss]

10. That would make sense

and popular with cops who are not interested in punishing those down on their luck.

[mrmpa]

17. Bottom Dollar employee fired for..............

removing corn from the dumpster. I know a man who is head of security for Bottom Dollar who told me this story & who did the firing. Even though the corn was disposed of by Bottom Dollar, they viewed his act as theft. He tried to explain that he was taking it home to his family because he didn't have enough money to buy fresh produce. His pay rate minimum wage.

Discretion, discretion, people just don't get it.

[1StrongBlackMan]

18. Police already have that discretion; but ...

it never (rarely) seems to be exercised with people of color or the poor.

[loli phabay]

23. there is discretion but it is severly curtailed when there is a victim

The only discretion available here was releasing on a summons rather than taking to jail.

[DireStrike]

11. A female cop. Maybe we should make them all female. -nt-

[calimary]

14. I noticed that, too.

Made me think of the women in the Senate. Twenty of them. Mostly Dems. But they ALL get together every month for dinner hosted by their senior member Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). They stay in communication even when the men are out waving their dicks around and making spectacles of themselves. One in particular whose nickname goes with the word "Carnival."

[Katashi_itto]

12. K&R

[ReRe]

13. K&R

Everybody... whoever you are, wherever you are, keep paying it forward!

[joanbarnes]

15. Thanks for this. I hope and pray there are still 'good' cops out there.

[darkangel218]

16. Good on her.

[Tigress DEM]

19. I needed this. Thanks

A good deed from a cop; a welcome change from what we usually read.

[olddad56]

20. It is a sad world we live in when people can't afford to buy food ...

but corporate billionaires can afford to buy politicians.

[Lunabelle]

21. Her kindness and compassion is a gift to her community.

This cop is here to protect and serve. Exactly what her neighborhood needs. More cops like this.

[Enthusiast]

24. Yes, it is a welcome change.

I'm sure some asshole cop will more than make up for it.