NYPD Officers Pay for Accused Shoplifter's Groceries Rather Than Arrest Her

New York Police Department officers paid for the groceries of a suspected shoplifter rather than arrest her.

On Thursday, three NYPD officers were in the Whole Foods in Manhattan's Union Square when they saw the unidentified woman being held by store security. According to reports, the trio had stepped in to get cold drinks, as temperatures on July 4 approached 90 degrees.

A fellow customer tweeted a photo of the incident, showing the cops at the cash register with the woman, who has her face in her hands.

"This woman was being held by security. She had food in her bag she didn't pay for," tweeted Paul Bozymowski, who was also in the supermarket. "When the NYPD showed up, they paid for her food."

"It was nice to be able to witness a genuine act of kindness," Bozymowski, a film, stage and television director, added in a later tweet. He told NBC News, "My hope is that the moment inspires others to be generous and kind as well."

The Fourth of July tweet garnered praise on Twitter: "she's a human being that's having hard times," one user commented, "and there are many more like her that don't know where their next meal is coming from. You just never know what people are dealing with. Thank you to the officers for your kindness."

"Thank you NYPD," tweeted another. "Sometimes the right thing is the compassionate move."

NYPD representative Terence Monahan also retweeted Bozymowski's post, which has been liked 2,000 times since yesterday. He revealed that the three officers—identified as Lt Sojo and Officers Cuevas and Rivera—were part of the NYPD's Strategic Response Group: "They are the kind-hearted cops who quietly do good deeds for New Yorkers in need."

Monahan thanked Bozymowski for "highlighting the often unnoticed" acts of kindness performed by the force.

The NYPD was in full force over the Independence Day holiday. A different group of five officers rescued a baby that had stopped breathing shortly before the fireworks went off Thursday night.

"These hero cops went to work and saved her life!" Monahan tweeted. "From saving a baby to securing the Macy's fireworks, NY's Finest do it all"

The cops were listed as Sergeant Chandu and Officers Grennan, Keegan, Rehilly and Losquadro.