A West Palm Beach police officer is drawing attention for going beyond the badge to help a woman facing homelessness get back on her feet.
Officer Gesner Michel, a seven-year veteran of the West Palm Beach Police Department, encountered the woman earlier this week while responding to a call. She told him her story — how she’d been walking the streets, looking for a job, but couldn’t make progress without food, shelter, or even a valid ID.
Body camera footage released by the department captured the interaction. In the video, the woman says, “I thought maybe I could walk around and get a job, but I can’t seem to get anything done.” Michel responded with reassurance. “We’re going to get you some food,” he told her. “OK, it’s on me today. I feel good today. You’re making me happy, so I’m going to make you even more happy.”
The officer helped her get a hot meal, accompanied her to retrieve a replacement ID, and secured her a place to sleep for the night. “At least, you know, we got a bed, right? Did I not say we were gonna get something?” Michel said in the footage.
Michel later reflected on the experience, sharing that the woman was taken aback by his willingness to help. “She was just so grateful. She was surprised, you know, that I took the time to help her, and I told her it was not a problem. It’s normal for me,” he said.
Michel said that offering that kind of help is a core part of why he wears the uniform. “You wake up every morning and you know you’re meeting new people, and you get a chance to give people hope,” he said. “Hope is giving someone that extra boost, that extra chance, just to say, ‘Hey, it’s not that bad.’ I just hope things get better. I know things will get better.”
He emphasized that the work isn’t done. Michel is now trying to help the woman find employment. She told him she’s an experienced waitress. “So if anyone in West Palm Beach would like to kind of hire somebody, she’ll be ready,” he said.
Michel said it’s about paying it forward — and being ready to help the next person who needs a hand. “It’s not just the job title for me,” he said.
The story comes at a time when homelessness across Palm Beach County remains a visible issue, and access to resources like shelter and IDs can determine whether someone gets a second chance or stays stuck. For one woman in West Palm Beach, that second chance started with a meal and the kindness of a local cop willing to stop and listen.
