An Atlanta Police officer went above and beyond the call of duty when he stepped up to help the family of a girl who was caught shoplifting.

According to the Police Department, on Feb. 18 officer Che Milton was called to a Family Dollar store. The store employees had caught a 12-year-old girl shoplifting a pair of $2 shoes. She said she needed them for her five-ear-old sister and couldn’t afford to pay for them. Instead of hauling the child to jail, the officer took her home

“After speaking with the young lady Officer Milton was curious to see what the girls living conditions were like so he took her home,” the Police Department says. “The girl was the oldest of four children; their ages ranging from newborn to 12 and their living conditions were poor. There were not enough beds for all of the children, the only furniture in the house was an old sofa and there was not much food in the home.”

The mother told the officer she couldn’t work because she couldn’t afford daycare for the smaller children. She said her husband works in and out of town but didn’t make enough to provide for the family.

“Officer Milton was sympathetic to the family’s situation and felt that he needed to do something,” the Police Department said. “He advised [the Division of Family and Children Services] of the situation to find out if a social worker could assist the family with their living situation.”

The officer bought the family four pizzas and two large beverages. He paid for it out of his own pocket and personally delivered it to the family. The family was thankful, but officer Milton didn’t brag about his good deed.

“Officer Milton did not help this family in hopes of receiving any recognition,” the Police Department said. “In fact, another officer came forward to commend Officer Milton. The way that Officer Milton handled this incident showed that not only is he here to enforce the law but also to go the extra mile and be a bigger part of the community he is policing.”

The Police Department is collecting donations for the family. They can be delivered to 2315 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. Donations will be accepted from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, the Police Department says.