HPD Officer Replaces Man's Stolen Groceries

HOUSTON, TX — Houston Police Officer Kirsten Koryciak is being praised after she went beyond the call of duty to help a man whose groceries were stolen after he suffered a medical episode in the parking lot of a Houston area Walmart.

The incident happened at about 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Walmart store in the 4400 block of the North Freeway at Crosstimbers.

Koryciak, who was working security and was off-duty at the time, said the man had what appeared to be a diabetic episode in the parking lot, and while EMS was attending to the man to stabilize his blood sugar, someone stole his groceries.

Koryciak said the man, who was in his 50s or 60s, came back into the store.

"He told me what had happened, and I offered to buy him groceries," she said. "I knew he needed to eat. I didn't want to see him suffering."

The amount wasn't much, really.

Koryciak said she paid between $25 to $30 to replace what was stolen, and while it was a small sum, it meant the world to her as a police officer.

"It's part of my job, to care about people and to help people," she added. "I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Koryciak said all too often, people see someone being mistreated, or see something bad happening, and they either decided to not get involved and help, or they stand by and record the incident on their phones.

Koryciak said she understands what it's like to struggle, and she just wanted to do something to pay it forward for someone in need.

"You have to treat people like they were your own family," she said.

Image: Patch

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