A simple act of kindness by an New York City police officer in Times Square has captured the hearts of people across the city and the world.

A photo taken by a tourist in Times Square on November 17 shows NYPD Officer Larry DePrimo giving a pair of insulated boots and thermal socks to a homeless man on a cold night.

"I looked over and someone was laughing at this elderly gentleman who had no socks, no shoes on, no anything, and I went up to him and I was like 'where are your shoes?' He's like, 'It's OK, officer. I've never had a pair of shoes,'" DePrimo said. "He's like 'But God bless you and thank you for doing what you're doing.' And that really, it had taken me back because, you know, this gentleman had enough heart to say God bless me but he didn't even have a pair of socks on, and I can only imagine how cold that pavement was."

The image was posted on the Police Department's Facebook page, where about half a million users have "liked" it.

DePrimo is assigned to Manhattan's Sixth Precinct.

He said he was "just doing his job."