02 December 2012, 10:11 AM IST
It was an act of compassion that got the world talking. A 25-year-old New York Police Department cop, Officer Larry DePrimo, was caught on camera giving a pair of boots and socks to a homeless man with blisters on his feet due to the cold. While such acts of kindness have often been done in the past, what probably surprised everyone is that it came from a cop. Cops are supposed to be tough, hardened and rule the mean streets with an iron hand. One would not expect softness and sensitivity from them.
Somehow this story reminds one of the young cop in 'Scent of a Woman' who pulls up a blind Lt. Colonel Frank Slade for recklessly test driving a Ferrari. He's firm and polite and wants to see the license and registration of the happy and peppy Slade, played to perfection by Al Pacino. Despite Pacino trying to charm him into releasing him and the beauty he's driving, the officer is a no-nonsense cop. But his stony face melts when Pacino says, "Doin' a hell of a job, Gore," and he says in return, "And so are you, Colonel." He eventually lets Pacino go with a smile on the condition "that you take this rig straight back to the dealer." Of course, Pacino is just happy he managed to get away with his gift of the gab.
Officer DePrimo too has been hailed for having a heart of gold. But NY mayor Michael Bloomberg says that his act is just what the NYPD does quietly every day. "The truth of the matter is cops every day do things that help people. That's what they're there for. They're on the ground. They see people with problems. I can't tell you that everyone always stops. But a lot of them do," he said.
Somehow this image of the cop is not what many Indians are used to. More often than not, he is perceived as being unprofessional, uncouth, brutish and uncaring. As someone ready to wield the stick, take bribes and be hard on the poor. As someone so feared that one would rather have no truck with him. But sometimes they do cover themselves with glory. This was especially evident after the death of Balasaheb Thackeray when the Mumbai police did a fine job keeping the crowds under control as the cortege moved along various roads.
Of course, such instances of professionalism are few and far between, making the public cynical about interacting with the force. But highlighting and rewarding them would be an incentive for this force to act with honesty and warmth. Having greater interactive sessions with the public, putting up videos and allowing citizens greater access to the force would help in stemming the negative image people have of them.
And yes, the velvet glove treatment does work as the NYPD cop has shown.
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