She's got a shiny badge and a heart of gold.

A kindhearted police officer took a Florida mom grocery shopping after arresting her on shoplifting charges.

Miami-Dade Police Officer Vicki Thomas was asked to arrest Jessica Robles after employees at an Ojus, Fla., supermarket saw her steal food, WSVN reported.

Thomas asked Robles why she did it, and she responded that her children were hungry. Thomas ran a check on Robles, saw that there was no major criminal history in her background. She charged her with a misdemeanor and gave her a notice to appear in court.

Then, Thomas took Robles to buy groceries.

Thomas told WSVN, "I made the decision to buy her some groceries because arresting her wasn't going to solve the problem with her children being hungry."

Thomas continued, "That $100 to me was worth a million." Thomas said the only thing she asked of Robles was that she help someone else out once she gets on her feet.

Robles has three children, including two boys, ages 2 and 5. Robles's 12-year-old daughter, Anais, told WSVN, "Not fun to see my brother in the dirt hungry, asking for food, and we have to tell him, 'There is nothing here.'"

WSVN reports that Robles is now going to a local food bank and seeking work. The incident happened in September. The story was also picked up by CNN.

video here:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/police-officer-buys-groceries-for-woman-accused-of-shoplifting-173940197.html

There are plenty of ways for them to get food, they just don't like what they get. I deal with this everyday and that excuse really pisses me off.

The cops job was to be impartial and not take sides, this will probably derail the criminal case on top of it. I hope the cop got a rip for this.

yea, i have to side against you this time, don... my personal feelings think that cops should be less robotic and more human. the girl that stole wasn't a career criminal, and her kids were hungry. i'm glad the lady police understood this and gave her a break. everything doesn't always have to be about the law... people make mistakes, and the lady cop knew this... so do you really think putting her in jail and taking her kids away is the best answer?

We will never see eye to eye on everything, it's life and I don't take it personal. This is just one area I have a lot of experience in.

It didn't say the girl wasn't a career criminal it said she wasn't convicted of anything, it said no major criminal history(Murder, Rape, Robbery, Burg) so she clearly has a criminal history or it would have listed no criminal history.

If her kids are hungry there are other choices, food banks, churches, charity's etc. I have been in the Loss Prevention Field in grocery for over 14 years now, on average I stop 3 people a day and multiple that by 14 years and you have thousands stopped, caught and interviewed in my career. I've dealt with nickel and dime shoplifters t=all the way up to serious ORC investigations and interviews. I guarantee this woman wasn't just stealing the basics. I have never seen that, ever. They are always stealing high end steaks and luxury food items, not crackers, hamburger meat, bread, soup etc. I've talked to the different food banks and charity's, I even volunteered for one and they don't turn anyone away, especially with kids.

I am not saying put her in jail or take her kids away(unless they were involved, but that doesn't appear to be the case). I don't even know if I would have called the cops honestly, I don't always call them since the shoplifter will be getting hit with a large restitution bill.

I just don't feel sorry for these people because there are options out there, they just don't like their choices. Besides, is it the businesses fault? Should they take the loss because someone doesn't like the options at the food bank? Businesses close all the time because of shrink and theft.

hoorah for the humane

not all cops are classist, egocentric, bullies

in fact, I really don't believe MOST are,,,

i don't think what she did was right, but i do think what the cop did was right...