Henry Moreno, a detective with the Gering Police Department got the idea when a friend of his who works for target suggested he apply for the “Shop with a Cop” grant. “We’re out there to help the community”. The young children even got a chance to see Santa.
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The children arrived at 8:30 a.m. and were able to sit down with the officers during the breakfast.
Maryland Natural Resource Police say the plan to continue this event for years to come. More than 50, in fact, and each one was getting a special holiday treat from either the Murfreesboro Police Department or the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.
Donations from sponsors allow each child to have a $150 budget.
Children will meet up with the police at Standish Elementary, and then be taken to Shopko in shifts, she said, depending on how many officers participate.
“While shopping, we noticed lots of games being played”, said Capt. Frank Wyant.
“Thank you for bringing us here and shopping with us”, said Rocio Rosas, 10, of Barrington, a Hough Street Elementary School fifth-grader whose chaperone was Barrington firefighter-paramedic John Matlachowski.
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“It’s just helping us because I don’t have the money to buy them Christmas so these officers are being great to do it for me”, said Hardy.
