Phoenix officer finds kindred spirit in homeless man

Thomas Goodwin had been living on the streets for nearly two years, with worsening skin cancer on his hand, when he said he began to give up all hope of recovery.

But that all changed when Phoenix Police Officer Richard Dicarlo took notice.

"I got to a point where I said, 'You know what, this is where I'm gonna be; I'm gonna be out on the street,'" Goodwin, 61, said Tuesday morning. "Then the Officer Dicarlo showed up."

After interacting with Goodwin several times, Dicarlo said he knew he had to take action to help Goodwin get the help he needed.

With permission from his supervisors, Dicarlo then spent his entire shift on April 7 aiding Goodwin. He gave him food, paid for a taxi to a hospital so Goodwin's hand could be examined and transported him to Circle the City, a local nonprofit that connects the homeless with medical care.

"I noticed that his spirits were even further down and he was in an extreme amount of pain." Dicarlo said Tuesday morning at a news conference called to highlight his work with Goodwin.

After losing several telemarketing jobs, Goodwin ended up on the streets. He said he had tried to get medical care while he was homeless, but struggled because he lacked resources like transportation or a working phone. In his time of deepest need, he said it was Dicarlo's help that was the final piece that made his recovery a reality, even at a time when it was easy for him to resent law enforcement.

"I would still be on the streets feeling sorry for myself," he said. "I could see through all the other things that might have prejudiced my view of law enforcement. I didn't see any of that. I just saw an individual that cared about me as a human being."

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Medical professionals diagnosed Goodwin with squamous cell skin cancer, which had made its way into his hand. They successfully operated on his hand, and Goodwin said he not only owes a new life to Dicarlo, but also his physical well-being.

"Had Officer Dicarlo not come to me when he did and get everything rolling, I would not have a hand," he said.

Circle the City's founder, Sister Adele O'Sullivan, said the story of Goodwin and Dicarlo illustrates the core purpose of the nonprofit.

The organization provides medical care the the homeless, as well as housing, food and case management services while they recover. Circle the City serves 350 adults per year but hopes to increase its services to 4,000 per year with the opening of a new Phoenix facility in July.

"Mr. Goodwin's story tells exactly the reason why Circle the City exists," she said. "Circle the City is proud to be part of Mr. Goodwin's story and we're certainly proud to have police officers in our community like Officer Dicarlo."

Sgt. Vince Lewis, a Phoenix police spokesman, said officers aren't often celebrated for their individual acts of kindness, which is all the more reason why Dicarlo and Goodwin's story should be told.

"Individual police officers don't do a lot to tout our doings," he said. "I know officers spend a lot of time striving to make a difference in their community so we've wanted to champion officer Dicarlo's efforts."

Dicarlo said helping Goodwin represents the best part of his job.

"On a day to day basis, we see a lot of people at their end point," he said. "Many times when people are in contact with the police or are calling the police they're not at their best and I'm just glad I could appreciate where Tom was in his spirits and his healthcare and that I was able to bring this fruition."

Goodwin said he is scheduled to undergo further surgery on his hand on Thursday, and plans to stay at Circle the City until he is fully recovered. Case managers at the nonprofit are helping Goodwin find housing for when he is ready to live independently.

"I feel better than I've felt in a long time right now," he said.