A homeless man named Phil had bought a secondhand razor. He needed to shave before going to a nearby McDonald’s to apply for a job.
The razor was missing a screw, so Phil asked Officer Tony Carlson if he had a spare one of those. He didn’t, but while Carlson tightened another screw and got the razor working, Phil told him the story.
“He was doing it to get a job at McDonald’s, if he showed up Monday with a clean shave,” Carlson said. “He seemed excited about it, which I noted. He wanted to help himself. I need to do what I can to help him out.”
Kelly Duvall posted the video and story to Facebook. In Tallahassee, Florida, this police officer shaved this homeless man’s beard for an incredible reason.
“My daughter just sent me this picture, and I had to share,” Duvall said.
“She went to the gas station and saw this officer shaving a homeless man’s beard.
“A minute later the officer went into the store, and Hannah walked in after him and saw him cleaning himself up because he was hot and sweaty.
”She offered to buy him a drink and got talking.
“Apparently the officer was at McDonald’s next door, and this gentleman went in looking for a job. He was told they wouldn’t hire him unless he shaved his beard.
“So the officer went and got some clippers and shaved the man’s beard so he could go back and get a job!
#MustSee #MorePureAwesomeness We thought the picture was awesome, well here’s THE VIDEO of Officer Carlson helping one of our citizens. #TPD #TallahasseeTHE STORY AS TOLD BY THE CITIZEN SUBMITTING THE INFORMATION: “My daughter just sent me this picture and called to tell me the story, I had to share….she went to the gas station and saw this officer shaving a homeless man's beard. A minute later the officer went into the store and Hannah walked in after him and saw him cleaning himself up because he was hot and sweaty. She offered to buy him a drink and got talking. Apparently the officer was at McDonald's next door and this gentleman went in looking for a job. He was told they wouldn't hire him unless he shaved his beard. So the officer went and got some clippers and shaved the man's beard so he could go back and get a job! I am so proud to live in a community where our deputies and officers are such wonderful people. Good job Tallahassee Police Department!!! ❤”
Posted by City of Tallahassee Police Department on Sunday, July 22, 2018
“I am so proud to live in a community where our deputies and officers are such wonderful people.
“Good job Tallahassee Police Department!”
After the footage went viral, the Tallahassee Police Department posted a video of Carlson discussing the encounter. He said he didn’t do anything spectacular.
“It happens all the time. It just so happens this time somebody caught it on film,” Carlson said. “There’s stuff that officers all over the place do. Our department, the sheriff’s department, other cities, they’re always doing stuff like that that doesn’t get attention.”
This one certainly has. A McDonald’s spokesperson told the Tallahassee Democrat that Phil will be hired as long as his background check comes back clean and he provides an ID.
Carlson said he’s just glad he could help out, and he hopes the all the attention helps the public better understand a police officer’s role.
“I think of us as peace officers first,” he said, “law officers second.”
We have to agree with Kelly. What a fabulous way to lend a helping hand! Thank you, Officer Carlson!