Victoria police officer strums guitar, shares lunch with homeless man

A Victoria Police officer is creating a stir online after a photo of him strumming a guitar and smiling with ahomeless man surfaced Thursday on social media.

"He was sitting looking pretty depressed on the side of the road, so I pulled over and was on my lunch so I got out to share my lunch with him," said Const. Chris Gilbert.

Gilbert said he picked up aguitar sitting next tothe man, and strummed while the two chatted.That's when Christie Robbins took the picture.

"He was just having a regular conversation, not getting mad at at him for panhandling or sitting on the ground, almost like they were buddies," Robbins said.

"I try in this job particularly to treat people the way I want to be treated," Gilbert said. "Empathysometimes seems to be a lost art form."

Community leadership

The officer was at Mount Douglas High School Friday, joined by some of his fellow officersfor a panel on homelessness.

Victoria Chief of Police Frank Elsner said Gilbert's kindnessand leadership in thecommunity come as no surprise.

"He's just a great big kid at heart," Elsner said. "He just exemplifies what we want to do and just to have that human face and just a caring attitude in our community."

As for his guitar playingskills?

"Let's just say it's a good thing that guitar wasn't plugged in," said Gilbert.