FLASHBACK: How The Post first covered the story. (
)
He’s willing to give a leg up — forever.
Even though the boots he gave a barefoot homeless man have disappeared from the vagrant’s feet, the police officer who reached into his pocket to buy them said he’ll repeat such acts of kindness “for the rest of my life.”
Officer Larry DePrimo was awarded a certificate of appreciation yesterday by the City Council for his selfless deed, which was photographed by a passer-by last month and went viral on the Internet.
DePrimo said he isn’t discouraged at reports that Jeffrey Hillman, the homeless man he made famous, has been seen without the $100 boots.
“I really don’t think it’s about what happened afterward,” said DePrimo. “I think it’s great if people remember what happened initially. It’s one person helping another, and that’s what we have to remember at the end of the day.” “Would I do it again? Absolutely. I’d do it next year. I’d do it five years from now and for the rest of my life,” he said before being applauded by council members and the uniformed cop assigned to guard its City Hall meeting.
DePrimo also said this wasn’t a one-time deal on his part.