Officer Reassigned Over Homeless Woman's Cart

Officer Reassigned Over Homeless Woman's Cart
Evans Pulled Shopping Cart Alongside Cruiser For 12 Miles

BRADENTON, Fla. -- A police officer has been reassigned to front-desk duty after drawing cheers and jeers for saving a homeless woman's shopping cart full of belongings.

Patrol Officer Nicholas Evans, 26, was celebrated by homeless advocates after he pulled a packed shopping cart alongside his police cruiser for 12 miles to the jail after arresting its homeless owner on an outstanding warrant last week.

But the three-year veteran was widely ridiculed by peers and criticized by Chief Michael Radzilowski for failing to use common sense and not figuring out another way to save the woman's belongings.
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He was reassigned to front-desk duty Tuesday while the incident is investigated further. Evans is not likely to be fired, the chief said.

"He believes what he did was right at the time," the officer's wife, Liz Evans, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

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It sends a message out to the entire police force that they should never show any concern for people. Never do anything to help anyone. Don't ever treat anyone like a human being. Just cuff 'em and stuff 'em.
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He probably could have figured out another way, but it shows a kind of compassion that many (especially law enforcement) don't have for the homeless.

Instead, it made me smile that a law enforcement officer acted with decency. Too bad I am so accustomed to bad news all the time and that he is now assigned to desk duty. We need more officers on the streets like this.

About 15 years ago, my husband was downsized from his job. He had been out of work for months and we had just about run out of our savings. That Christmas we had gotten our food from a local food pantry. Needless to say, our two daughters (10 and 5)had no presents. My Mom gave my older daughter $10 to buy a tape of a song she liked.

On a cold snowy day going to the music store, we came across a shopping cart woman in the parking lot. She was in very bad shape and had sores all over her bare legs. My daughter stopped, looked at her, and said she wanted to buy her something to eat with her Christmas money. I asked her if she was sure she wanted to do this? She told me yes that this woman needed food more than she needed a new tape. We went to a local Deli and got her hot soup, a hot hero, and some coffee.

When we got home that night my husband greeted us at the door with good news. He had just gotten a phone call from a former coworker he hadn't heard from in YEARS just calling to see how he was doing. When he told him his situation, the man OFFERED HIM a job right then on the phone (the man was now a VP) at the new company he worked at. Coincidence?

Incidentally, the name of the song my daughter wanted to buy was, "What Goes Around, Comes Around."

To this day, I still get chills down my spin remembering this. Sometimes real life truly is stranger than fiction.

Good for your daughter - she's a kind soul!

I love hearing stories like this. That brought tears to my eyes...I wish more people would follow your daughter's lead.