Why is this woman crying?
The Cop Who Didn’t Arrest
Regardless of whether a country is developed, developing or underdeveloped, there is always a demographic of people which falls below the poverty line.
For example, in the United States, 1 in 5 children are at risk of hunger. Even in an economically-powerful country such as the US, there are over 15 million children who live in food insecure households. This is according to FeedAmerica.org.
As there are underprivileged families in every country, what sets a developed nation apart is how well they support their most vulnerable.
Below is a touching story that I came across yesterday. Ms Helen Johnson lives in Alabama with just USD120 a month from welfare aid. With that money she has to support her 2 daughters, 2 grandchildren, a niece and herself. This month, the money got lost in the mail. Imagine not having any money, but with 6 mouths to feed…
On the 2nd day without food, she went into a grocery store with all that she had, USD1.25. She tried to buy eggs but was short of 50 cents. Desperate, she put 5 eggs into her pocket and tried to steal it. She was caught on her way out when the eggs broke and they were dripping from her pockets. The store keeper had no choice but to call the police.
When Officer William Stacey arrived, instead of arresting her, he listened and emphatized. He also did something that made Ms Helen Johnson cry.
Do read the article below to see what Officer William did..
Helping those who can bring us no direct benefit are acts of true compassion. It’s inspiring to see how this story became viral. Officer William’s small act ended up inspiring millions of people around the world… He showed us how we don’t need to wait until we are “successful” to be kind and to help others.
How we live our lives is a reflection of our attitude. How we spend our time daily is a reflection of our strongest thoughts. What we do for others is a sign of our compassion.
Tsem Rinpoche
One special Christmas delivery: Cop who caught starving mother stealing eggs gives her two truckloads of food to feed her family
Written by: James Nye
The compassion shown by Officer William Stacy to desperate Alabama mother Helen Johnson captured the nation’s attention at a time of strained relations between the police and black Americans.
Instead of arresting her for stealing five eggs to feed her starving family on Saturday, Stacy bought the carton and the touching hug they shared afterwards caught on video by a stunned passer-by went viral.
But it got even better on Wednesday when Officer Stacy and some colleagues arrived at 47-year-old Johnson’s home with two truckloads of food to keep her and her children and grandchildren fed through Christmas.
‘The last time I saw my house this full, I was 12-years-old and staying with my grandmother,” said Johnson to Al.Com. ‘I’ve been crying all day.’
The reaction to the viral hug was so immense that Tarrant Police Chief Dennie Reno said that he had to bring in a second police dispatch officer just to field the calls of donations for Johnson coming in from the around the country.
‘As of right now, with all the stuff going on in Ferguson and New York and all over the US, it’s good to have this kind of story,’ said Officer Stacy to AL.Com. ‘It gives a positive image for law enforcement.’
Officers also set up a fund at People’s First Federal Credit Union in Tarrant with all the money pouring in destined to be handed to the Johnson family.
‘It’s growing and growing and growing,’ said Reno to Al.Com. ‘A guy called me from New York and just broke down. He said for two months he’s been angry with police, and he said this has totally changed his mind.’
But Reno said that the best outcome for everyone out of the heart-warming episode was that Johnson will not be forced to steal just to feed her family, especially during the Holidays.
‘This woman’s getting plenty of food,’ said Reno to Al.com. ‘She shouldn’t be hungry for a while.’
Every week Johnson feeds her two daughters, niece and two grandchildren, ages 1 and 3 with her welfare check of just $120 a month.
However, last week the money was lost in the mail, leaving the Johnsons perilously close to starvation.
By Saturday, the family had not eaten for two days, so Johnson went to Dollar General with only $1.25 to try and buy eggs.
To her despair she found herself 50 cents short of the tax and put five eggs into her pockets.
At the time it may not have seemed that way, but fortuitously the eggs broke in her pocket.
‘I am not a good thief at all,’ said Johnson to Al.Com.
Stopped as she tried to leave with egg whites and yolks dripping from her jacket pocket, Johnson admitted immediately she had stolen them.
The store had already called the police and when Officer Stacy arrived he told her to stay where she was while he spoke to the store owners.
They decided together not to press charges against Johnson but when they went to speak to the grandmother she expected the handcuffs to come out.
‘She started crying, she got very emotional and was very apologetic,’ said Stacy said. ‘She tried to give me the money she had on her, $1.25.’
It was then that Stacy explained that she was not going to be arrested. He remembered her from a prior visit to her house and recalled how poverty stricken she was. Her family all sleep on mattresses on the floor.
‘The story she told me Saturday matched up with what I had seen when I was there,’ said Stacy according to Al.com.
‘I felt like it was the right thing to do. I didn’t want to pass judgment on her.’
He bought her a carton of eggs and when Johnson asked Stacy how she could repay him, he simply asked her never to shoplift again.
‘I hope she won’t do it again. I pray she doesn’t, and I don’t think she will,’ said Stacy.
Just before she got into her car, Johnson turned to hug Stacy and unknown to them, the moment was captured on cellphone by Robert ‘Dollar’ Tripp who posted it to Facebook with the hashtag, ‘feelgoodstoryoftheday’.
The story was shared millions of times online and on Tuesday, officers from Tarrant police arrived at Johnson’s house unannounced.
‘I thought it was about the eggs. My grandbaby said, ‘Are you going to jail?’ and I said I hoped not.’
She was not being arrested and instead was taken to Tarrant police station where they revealed she was to not only get food, but toys and clothing from well-wishers who had donated them for Johnson’s family.
And then on Wednesday, Officer Stacy and Officer Jay Jenkins brought the food to Johnson – causing her understandably to break down in tears.
‘I just busted out and started hollering,’ said Johnson to Al.com. ‘I was yelling so loud. I would have been a good cheerleader.’
Johnson then said her life has been changed forever because of Stacy and could never thank him enough.
[Extracted from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2871737/What-difference-week-makes-Cop-let-starving-mother-caught-stealing-eggs-just-hug-delivers-two-truckloads-food-feed-family-Christmas.html]
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Thank you for sharing this post with us Rinpoche.
This story was sad and so touching ,can imagine how Ms Helen Johnson and her children gone through without foods for 2 days.She is lucky to have met Officer Stacy who is so kind of him .His kindness has touched the hearts of many people.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this touching story here. Malaysia is a very beautiful and well off country. We have plenty of food and resources. I personally had not experience difficult situations like Johnson did. I am truly blessed.
Looking at stories like this I realise many of the people i met who are miserable are more well off than this lady. They have.comfortable life, never hungry and a comfy bed and yet they are miserable. They take things for granted and keep thinking on things they don’t have. Having food can bring this lady to happy tears which is full with sincerity and gratitude. One the other hand, I once heard a teenager destroyed a brand new IPhone that her parents just got her because it wasn’t the correct colour. We need to learn to not take things for granted and be grateful of what we have. Our lives will be merrier if we think in this way.
Humbly,
Chris
I understand exactly what she was going thru. Me and my girlfreind and her child are on food stamps. For the pasr 8 months we got 144 dollars. If you devide that by 3 that means we each get 48 dollars a month. Devide that by 4 and we got 12 dollars a week. Devide thatby 7 days in a week and that means we got 1.71 a day for food per person. Devide that by 3 meals in a day and you have a grand total of 57 cents that we can spend on food for a meal. Me and my girlfriend would live off baked potatoes with butter on them. You can get a 10lb bag of potatoes for $1.99 and a tub of butter for $1.69. We would eat this along with bread and butter for almost every meal. This would free up money to get her daughter milk, cerial, and spaghetti. It was very rough and you had to budget every penny. Then a month and a half ago we got our case re-evaluated. Now we get 300 a month. I feel so blessed. We can get double the food and we enjoy the extras like 1.99 cheese pizza, 1.88 bag of french fries, and the occasional veggie burger as a special meal. At 300 a month we get 100 dollars each for food. Our cubbords are full now. We buy 12 extra cans a month to stockpile in case they ever take our money away. I never go hungry anymore. Evryone should get 100 a month for food. It is a step up from getting by. Before you go aww poor you relize a lot go with a lot less than me. Some half to share a cup of rice. There is always someone poorer. Like the dalai lama said.. I complained about not having shoes until i saw someone without feet. I dont feel poor anymore and am very greatful for all we got wich is plenty more than we need. When i see homelessness i always give money because thats a true person in need. They might not get food for days at a time. I am also blessed with a helpful family that on occasion takes us out for meals. May no one go hungry tonight
People like this really restore my faith in humanity. Out of all the terrible things humans do so others, animals and the planet, i am happy to know that there are still good people out there.
Johnson really made me proud to be a human. What he did for Stacy was so kind and so thoughtful. Not many people nowadays are like that. I am sure that any other police officer would have just arrested Stacy for stealing the eggs, but Johnson was different. He understood what Stacy was going through and helped her with her problems. What a loving heart he has to want to do this.
Thank you for sharing this post with us Rinpoche, it really made my day. I love reading posts like this as it really motivates me to become a better individual 🙂
This story was just so touching 🙂 I am glad I get to read stories like this on this blog, which brings out the best in people. These stories, in turn, inspire me to do good and help people for the rest of my life.
Thank you, Rinpoche and staff, for posting stories like this. _/|\_
Unbelievable! Stories like this put me to tears coz of the beautiful things kind hearted people do. Be it to to human or animals. He is really kind and giving. How nice if we can always read stories like this and inspire people to do good as well. It inspired me! If I was in officer Stacy’s shoes, I would have done the same, not arrest Ms Helen.
And he is absolutely right!! ‘I felt like it was the right thing to do. I didn’t want to pass judgment on her.’
It was!!
This is just such a great story. It always warms my heart when I read articles like this or even seeing them happen in real life. It is indeed compassion in action. There is nothing in return that the officer wants apart from the family to be well.
Many a times I would feel that humanity, is being lost in today’s community. It is just great that there are still people out there that would care and give others wanting nothing in return.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful news with all of us here.
What Officer William did for this poverty stricken mom/grandmother has truly touched my heart. Despite the tensions between white cops and black people these days, it makes me very glad to see that the exact opposite has been done in this case.
Despite being caught red handed for attempted shoplifting, it wasn’t for any sinister reason and I am actually quite surprised and glad at the same time that she wasn’t arrested or charged.
Great Job Officer William!
Officer Stacy is truly a role model in the police force. His act of compassion and generosity has touched the hearts and inspired lots of people through out the world after his story has posted on the face book. He also helped to mend and create a good relationship and image for the American black people who have bad impression for the police force. Thank you for sharing this heartwarming story.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing on such a touching story about the less fortunate in America.We are glad to know that there are still some compassionate law enforcement officer who value human decency over the ridge law that they uphold that is meant to control a discipline society through their code of conduct.
Through the generosity displayed by Office Stacy,the plight of Ms Helen was then rescue by the general public as they was so touched by his sincere and spontaneous action .
We certainly hope to hear more of this display of true Dharma in action. Which is so contagious that it could plant a positive seed through others in order for them to transform the negative mind set into a positive ones….manifesting a compassionate and caring society.
Thanks for sharing, Rinpoche. This is so touching, sometimes we should really think about others, they don’t mean to steal, but realistic life forced them to do so, under this kind of circumstance, we must understand y they do that and giving the solutions instead of catching them to the jail, and she has 5 people to feed, it is really not easy for her.
Thanks for Rinpoche’s sharing . The kindness have change the life of a poor woman.Officer Stacy have show positive message to society there are still a lot of people need help . This is really a beautiful actions and wish that such good actions can influence more people to share care to who live in poverty .
May there always be an open space for good things to happen, like the potential leisure of a human life…..
This is so kind and it is so heartwarming to hear this story because the officer didn’t punish her. Instead he looked into her situation and and knew that she had no choice. This officer is such a kind man because he didn’t know her and he just put in so much effort to help her by getting a truck load of food for her and her family. He has loads of compassion and generosity.
But this woman definitely didn’t deserve to be punished so I’m happy she wasn’t, because she immediately admitted that she stole and apologised, she is completely innocent and didn’t deserve to be punished. I bet if she tried to cover up and lie then officer Stacy would have arrested her because I bet he saw a good person in her and then helped her because she admitted and apologised.
If you really want to help the less fortunate then Kechara has a homeless feeding service called Kechara Soup Kitchen also known as KSK. So if your feel really touched by this story then go and help others yourself and experience it firsthand! what are you waiting for? GO!
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing. “We don’t need to wait until we are “successful” to be kind and to help others.” We should start now.
Words can never explain the feelings pouring from me as a reader. True compassion in action.. especially when so much is going on in other States between the police and the local citizens.
If just by reading such a touching story can render me speechless and filled with emotions, I can imagine how strong it must had been for Ms Johnson. The people of Tarrant are so kind, allowing Ms Johnson and her family a wonderful Christmas.
Saw this on FB. This story is really super amazing and touching what one man (the cop) decided to do… instead of condemning/arresting/persecuting the lady who stole, he (the cop) had a HEART and did the opposite of what most cops would NOT do!
This story was a WOW and really gives us a chance to reflect on our own actions as well… when someone did something wrong/is down, do we quickly point the finger, blame them, accuse them, arrest them, push them down further or do we be like stop, check, listen, and understand? Instead of apply a negative enforcement, this cop took the time to investigate and listen to the truth, and with a leap of faith he did a positive enforcement, he choose to do the NICE & KIND thing. Interesting how it all turn out and he (the cop) became a hero overnight and on top of that many people who hated the POLICE actually change their minds about police officers after reading this story. So not everyone is a criminal, lets not be quick to judge and point the finger. Certainly we need more wisdom and compassionate people like this officer that empowers people positively instead of discrimination and pushing them down. INSPIRING story, AWESOME COP!
It will be good to institutionalise some form of resource redistribution system to even out needs. I am not talking about socialism or communism. 🙂
In desperation, it is common that we will do whatever necessary to overcome our difficulties. The beauty of this story is that Helen did not deny her wrong and as such the Officer Stacy did more than just not arrest her, but paid for the eggs and continued to ensure that Helen and her family will not starve during the festive season. This is just so wonderful one human being can do for another.
In this act of compassion, so much goodwill is also created for the Police force in USA which is encountering much negativities in Ferguson.
May many more people in this world operate out of compassion and care, the result of which will be a much happier and safe place on earth.
I have just read about this few days ago, it went viral on the internet. Its very sweet and caring of Officer Stacy to have showed Ms Helen kindness and understanding when she needed it the most, officer Stacy sure had set a good example to the society. We don’t have to be anyone to help the others, we should give more instead of just keep taking. We all can see how desperate Ms Helen was, and her desperation led her to stealing, but one thing I know is that, we must admit our faults and then seek for forgiveness, denying our faults just proves that we are irresponsible and selfish. I’m very glad to know that it was a great ending, no one was brought to the jail and instead, Ms. Helen has just met the savior of her life. We should really take officer Stacy as an example and practise it, society nowadays are in need of good hearted people like him. Thank You so much for sharing Rinpoche, this is a very inspiring and meaningful article.