Huge-hearted cops: In Florida and London, officers going the extra mile make headlines

Police officers: They're the good guys.

And sometimes stories like these remind us that even in the line of duty, cops can also be softies.

In Melbourne, Florida, last week, a police officer visiting Croton Elementary School noticed a young Grade 1 student wearing worn-out shoes that had split down the front and were "flapping in the breeze."

Even her socks had holes in them.

The officer asked the girl what size she wore and returned to the school with two new pairs of shoes — a pink pair and an orange pair — and matching socks.

"She was just in heaven," school bookkeeper Renee Carr told Florida Today, adding that the girl thanked the officer with a huge hug.

"She put them on and she goes, 'These are beautiful.'"

And across the pond in Croydon, a large town in south London, England, officers pooled their extra cash together to help an elderly burglary victim recoup some of his stolen life savings.

The victim's son had called the police on November 5 to report the robbery. Thieves had stolen almost £3,000 ($5,162 CAD).

Acting Detective Sergeant Andy Pike appealed to his colleagues to help raise money to help the victim. He raised £750 ($1,290 CAD) and presented it to the man on November 11. Because that day was also the victim's birthday, the officers also organized a birthday card for him. One officer even baked him a cake.

"When we heard about this crime and the fact the victim had lost what amounted to what was his life savings, we felt we had to do something," Pike told the Croydon Guardian.

"The victim and his son have been great and were visibly touched when we went round with the money today, but it will hopefully make a big difference to their quality of life over the winter and help them to enjoy Christmas as well."