Police officers in the City of Rome, New York, demonstrated their dedication to serving the public in an extraordinary way.
During his patrol, Officer Aaron Page encountered a homeless man in need of assistance. After inviting him to visit the department the following day, Page orchestrated a remarkable surprise that would transform the man’s life.
“It was obvious he needed some simple things clothing wise,”explained Officer Jeff Buckley, one of the four officers involved, in an interview with WSTM.“He literally had just the clothes he was wearing.”
Encountering the man, identified as Bobby, on a Monday, Officer Page invited him to visit the station the following morning.
However, unlike other visitors to the Rome Police Department station, Bobby’s visit would hold a special and heartwarming surprise.
The fantastic four
Upon his arrival on Tuesday morning, he was greeted by a team of four – Officers Page, Buckley, George Gebo, and Sergeant Frank Fragapane – who were prepared to give Bobby an extraordinary makeover.
The team gathered donated clothing, while Officer Page brought in clippers to provide Bobby with a fresh shave and haircut.
“We are always trying to come up with new ideas of how to help and give back to our community,” Buckley remarked about their collective effort to offer Bobby a fresh start. “Officer Page spearheaded the idea on this one and it was a great way to help someone who simply needed a hand.”
Meanwhile, the Rome PD shared the story on Facebook, accompanying it with photos documenting Bobby’s transformation to inspire the community.
The initial images portray Bobby with a scruffy beard, a worn baseball cap perched atop his unkempt hair, and tattered clothing draping his frame.
In one touching photo, Officer Page is seen humbly assisting Bobby in putting on his new red sneakers. The subsequent images showcase Bobby after his transformation, sporting a sleek haircut and a clean-shaven face.
The post declares: “Rome PD giving back and providing a helping hand. After some interaction with a man down on his luck, Bobby, said he’d love a haircut and warm shower. Through the efforts of Officer Page, we were able to make that happen.”
Continuing, the post states: “This morning we provided Bobby with a haircut, a shave, a shower and a whole new wardrobe of donated clothing. Bobby left looking like a whole new person and couldn’t thank us enough.”
Netizens flooded the comments section with admiration for the police department’s transformation of Bobby, commending the officers for instilling the confidence boost he needed.
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