Instead Of Arrest, Mt Vernon Cops Buy Shoplifting Suspect Socks

MOUNT VERNON, NY — The Mount Vernon Police Department has made news in recent days over allegations of pattern of misconduct and calls from some of the country’s highest elected officials for a Department of Justice investigation, but two officers went out of their way this weekend to remind us that they are there to protect and serve.

On Saturday, officers Cartwright and Velez were called to the Dollar Tree store on Fulton Avenue because of a reported shoplifting incident. The officers learned that the suspected shoplifter was still in the store.

Speaking with the man, the cops soon discovered that he was a down-on-his-luck homeless man who was simply trying to get a clean pair of socks in any way possible.

Officer Cartwright, after discussing the situation with the store manager, decided that the best possible outcome for this incident would be to just buy the man the socks he was allegedly trying to shoplift. Meanwhile, Officer Velez explained to the man that if he was willing to come to the station, he could perhaps get more help than just a new pair of socks.

The man declined the offer for help accessing community services, but he thanked the officers for the new socks before departing.

“This is the Mount Vernon we are building up,” Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard wrote in a social media post lauding the police. “A more compassionate community. Instead of arresting this homeless man, they bought him socks and directed him to services to help him out. Thank you Officers Cartwright, Velez and the Mount Vernon Police Department, NY”

Patterson-Howard made news earlier in the week when she announced her support for the Westchester County District Attorney’s call for federal investigation of the Mount Vernon police. The embattled law enforcement agency acknowledged recent tensions, while at the same time singling out the members of the force for going above and beyond the call of duty.

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“The Officers of the Mount Vernon Police Department will continue to serve our community to the best of our abilities,” the department said in a statement highlighting the compassion shown by the officers involved. “Thank you to Officers Cartwright, Velez and to all the other officers that have served proudly over the last year. Your hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed.”