Get Our Email Newsletter

Police Officer Catches Parents Shoplifting with Kids; Pays for Their Groceries

An Arkansas police officer has been praised after buying groceries for parents who were caught shoplifting food items from Walmart. Field Training Officer Kenneth Martin, of the Fort Smith Police Department, has been awarded Employee of the Month for his sensitive response to the attempted theft, which occurred at a store on Zero Street on November 30 last year in front of two children, KFSM reported.

Body-worn camera footage showed FTO Martin purchasing items the couple had been caught with and bringing them back to the mother. “Ring it all up again so I can pay for it. They’re stealing food and they’ve got kids. I have to take him to jail, but I don’t have to make the kids think I’m an a******,” the officer could be heard telling cashiers, joking: “Don’t let people know I’m a nice guy.”

As seen in the footage, FTO Martin walked back to the front of the store, where the family was flanked by other officers, and placed the groceries into a shopping cart. While the man was detained, the woman was allowed to leave. “I took care of these for you, OK?” Martin was heard telling the mother… Newsweek

Loss Prevention Magazine updates delivered to your inbox

Get the free daily newsletter read by thousands of loss prevention professionals, security, and retail management from the store level to the c-suite.

What's New

Digital Partners

Become a Digital Partner

Violence in the Workplace

Download this 34-page special report from Loss Prevention Magazine about types and frequency of violent incidents, impacts on employees and customers, effectiveness of tools and training, and much more.

Webinars

View All | Sponsor a Webinar

Whitepapers

View All | Submit a Whitepaper

LP Solutions

View All | Submit Your Content

Loss Prevention Media Logo

Stay up-to-date with our free email newsletter

The trusted newsletter for loss prevention professionals, security and retail management. Get the latest news, best practices, technology updates, management tips, career opportunities and more.

No, thank you.

View our privacy policy.