Viral Video Shows Two Chicago Cops Following Up on a Promise to Bring a Homeless Man a Coat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rOFdr986d4

Two police officers from Chicago have gone viral simply for following up on a promise.

In the beginning of January, police officers Peter White and Bob Osborne saw a man panhandling in the freezing temperatures. While the officers were giving him a ticket for the illegal act, they noticed he lacked an adequate coat for winter. The two officers then promised to bring the man a coat the next time they bumped into him.

About three weeks later, the two officers ran into the man again and fulfilled the promise. White gave the man a heavy winter jacket and even helped him to put it on and zip it up.

While White was helping the man with the coat, Osborne filmed the special moment without White knowing.

“I got out and gave him the jacket, and he thanked me and I got back in the car,” White said to Fox. “He sent it to me, I sent it to my wife and his friends and my friends.”

Osborne then shared the simple act of kindness on social media where it was quick to go viral. The video was also posted to the Chicago Police Department’s Facebook page where it has been viewed over 383,000 times.

Many users on social media were quick to applaud the two cops for their incredible action.

“Attaway boys, keep making a difference out there everyday. God bless,” one user wrote.

“A very kind-hearted thing to do. Thank you for your kindness and generosity,” wrote another.

For the officers, they just wanted to keep their promise, while helping out a man in need.

“We wrote him a ticket the time we stopped him. We still did our job. But, when we went back, you know the human always still comes out,” Osborne said to Fox.

“He’s out there panhandling and does whatever he can to stay warm and fed, but I don’t think that he gets people actually truly caring,” Peter White told Fox. “And it felt nice for us, but I think he was appreciative himself that as not only just people, but as police officers we showed that we kept our word.”

The act of kindness has sparked others in the community to pay it forward. The commander from the 15th District in Chicago is now planning a coat drive to collect winter apparel for those in need.