BOSTON — A homeless Boston man who turned in a backpack containing tens of thousands of dollars in cash and traveler’s checks says even if he were desperate he wouldn’t have kept “even a penny.”

Glen James was honored Monday at police headquarters, where Commissioner Edward Davis thanked him for his honesty and gave him a special citation.

James found the backpack at the South Bay Mall in the city’s Dorchester neighborhood Saturday evening. He flagged down patrolling officers and handed it over.

The backpack contained $2,400 in U.S. currency, almost $40,000 in traveler’s checks, Chinese passports and other personal papers.

The man who lost it told workers at a Best Buy store at the mall. He was taken to the police station, where he was confirmed as the rightful owner.