In this world filled with hatred and chaos, we can take solace in the fact that there are still some good people who want to help others out of the goodness of their heart. It gives us hope that humanity is not lost.
Detroit Police Officer Jeremy Thomas is one of those people. He went out of his way to help homeless Stanley Nelson, 62, shave his beard when he didn’t have to.
It was Wednesday at Comerica Park when someone told the officer that Nelson was trying to shave his beard using rainwater from a downspout. Officer Thomas saw the man had shaving cream on his hands, his face, his coat, and his eyes. Nelson was using a puddle to rinse his razor. The officer knew Nelson needed help so he approached him.
“So I walked up and I said, ‘Excuse me, sir,’ and the man quickly replied, ‘I’ll leave. I’ll leave.’ And I said, ‘no do you need some help?’ and he turned around blindly and said, ‘yes thank you, God bless,'” Officer Thomas told WXYZ on Thursday.
Little did the police know that someone recorded his kind gesture on camera. Jill Metiva Schafer was just leaving Comerica Park when she saw Officer Thomas helping Nelson shave his beard on the side of the board. She took photos and posted them on Facebook.
Many expressed their appreciation and commended Officer Thomas for the kind gesture. One even wrote that the photos serve as a reminder that police officers shouldn’t get “much bad coverage” because they also do their job of helping people.
As for Nelson, he said that God will bless Officer Thomas for what he did. He expressed his appreciation for the kind gesture.
“What he did for me, that was alright. I really appreciate that because, you know, I’m going through my thing and I feel bad about myself, you know, but I’m gonna be alright,” Nelson said.
Officer Thomas remained humble despite the press coverage and reminded everyone to help others when they can because that gesture is going to come back to them. It helps to pay the kindness forward.