TPD provides update on man seen in viral video

July 24, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- The Tallahassee Police Department has provided an update on the man who was caught on camera being shaved by an officer prior to a job interview.

In a Facebook post, Officer Tony Carlson said Phil, the man in the video, told him he talked with the manager of a local McDonald's and he was set to receive a job, but needed to provide his ID or Social Security card.

Officer Carlson said he had good news for Phil; Senator Marco Rubio's office had contacted TPD and said they wanted to help Phil get his identification.

Officer Carlson said he told Phil Rubio's office invited him to come by their Tallahassee location to assist him with the process.

The full post can be seen below.

July 23, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- In a video that’s going viral on Facebook, you can see a Tallahassee Police officer shaving a man’s face. TPD says Officer Tony Carlson is helping the man, named Phil, who said he was trying to get a job at McDonald’s.

“He seemed excited about it. I said, 'if he’s willing to help himself, then I need to help him out as best I can,'” Officer Carlson said.

Officer Carlson said he doesn’t feel like he did anything spectacular. In fact, he says he wishes he could have done more.

“This happens all the time. It just so happens that this time, someone caught it on film. Officers all over the place are always doing things like this that don’t get the attention this happened to get,” Officer Carlson said.

The officer just finished responding to a call when Phil asked him for help. He said he needed a clean-shaven face to get the job, but he couldn’t figure out how to use the razor. Officer Carlson fixed the razor that was missing a screw, and helped clean him up.

Officer Carlson says he hopes whoever watches the video is encouraged to pay it forward.

"I think it shows the reality of what we actually do. I like to think of us more as peace officers first, law enforcement officers second. You go to a scene and you try to resolve it with a positive ending and something that's going to last," Officer Carlson said.

The officer has over 20 years of service, but says he’s never gotten this kind of attention before. He said he’s not quite sure how to handle it.

“He thought it was the best thing in the world,” Carlson said about Phil. “One of his comments was, ‘You should be a barber!’”

Officer Carlson said he plans on checking in with Phil later this week to see if he got the job.