looks like my earlier post on this story was looking in the wrong direction, wish i could say never mind.
In a brief story reported by the Huffington Post, it seems the homeless man, identified as Jeffrey Hillman, is back to his bare feet:Asked about the $100 all-weather boots Officer Larry DePrimo gave him on Nov. 14, Hillman says he’s hidden them because “they are worth a lot of money.”He says he’s grateful for the gift, but he wants “a piece of the pie” because the photo was posted online “without permission.”So, we think, only in America could a homeless man, given a gift by an originally anonymous police officer looking to do some good, reject that gift because he wanted a cut of whatever profits are being made on the amateur photo! With savvy like that, sounds like he’d make a great agent…perhaps more than boots, somebody should give him a suit and a job!
Mr. Hillman, 54, was by turns aggrieved, grateful and taken aback by all the attention that had come his way — even as he struggled to figure out what to do about it.
“I was put on YouTube, I was put on everything without permission. What do I get?” he said. “This went around the world, and I want a piece of the pie.” [Emphasis added]
He did not recall the photo being taken but remembered well the gift from Officer DePrimo. “I appreciate what the officer did, don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I wish there were more people like him in the world.”
At another point he said: “I want to thank everyone that got onto this thing. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. It meant a lot to me. And to the officer, first and foremost.” [Emphasis added.]
The Times writers were able to get Hillman talking about his life and background. Turns out he’s a vet; joined the Army in 1978 (with ID to prove it); served in Germany and the U.S. as a “food service specialist”; was honorably discharged and worked at subsequent kitchen jobs for a while.
He has two children — Nikita, 22, and Jeffrey, 24 — but has had little contact with them since a visit three years ago, Mr. Hillman said.
He was reluctant to talk about how he ended up on the streets, staring blankly ahead when asked how his life went off course.
After a long pause, he shook his head and said, “I don’t know.”i really can't fault him for what may to some feel like ungrateful waste of money, but even with the officers good intentions, hunger can really be a driving force.
