Somerville Police Officer Lauded For Kindness to Homeless Man

SOMERVILLE, MA - A Somerville police officer is being lauded for her kindness to a local homeless man.

Christine Bork was presented with the Somerville Police Department's Beyond the Call of Duty Award this week. Blair Connelly, a Melrose resident, wrote to the department in June praising Bork's kindness to a homeless man in Assembly Square.

In the letter Connelly wrote:
"This morning as I walked into Starbucks there was a homeless man sitting outside the store. He was not begging or harassing anyone, but no-one was paying attention to him or making eye contact with him, including myself. Behind me walked up a female office (sic) and asked him if he was hungry, asked him to come in and pick out a few items to eat, and she purchased them for him with her own money and brought them out to him. She asked him if he was cold (he was dressed light) and asked him where he sleeps at night. She offered him the names of some nearby shelters. She treated him like a normal human being and showed extreme compassion. I did acknowledge her kind deed while we were in the store, but I did not want this incident to go unnoticed by her superiors. I am grateful there is a person like her on your force, and you should be too. I could not get her badge number, but did get her plate number (784). I hope you know what a special young woman you have. She has inspired me today, I will never forget her simple gesture of kindness. She is to be commended today.
"Thank you, Christine, for your inspiring action to help someone less fortunate. You exemplify what it means to be a police officer, and we are proud to call you one of our own," said David Fallon, Chief of Police.