City honors NYPD cop from LI who gave homeless man boots
Photo credit: Charles Eckert | New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, right, is joined by fellow council members as they honor NYPD Officer Lawrence DePrimo for giving boots to a man in need. (Dec. 10, 2012)
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NYPD Officer Larry DePrimo
The NYPD officer from Holbrook whose gift of boots to a man on the street became an Internet sensation said he isn't bothered that the man says he isn't wearing them.
All that matters to Officer Lawrence DePrimo is the fact that his deed seems to have encouraged other good acts.
The City Council honored the officer Monday with a proclamation after he bought Jeffrey Hillman a pair of new boots when he found the man shoeless and alone in Times Square last month.
"I really hope it inspires people to go out there and help," DePrimo, 25, said.
Hillman was still shoeless when he was spotted recently, but claims he keeps the boots hidden because he doesn't want to get robbed.
Still, DePrimo said that's OK, because he couldn't let Hillman stay there barefoot.
