Green Country Kids In Need 'Shop With A Cop' For Christmas

Green Country kids got gets got to "Shop with a Cop" this weekend – and many took the opportunity to buy for their loved ones.

It's an opportunity to make sure needy kids can enjoy Christmas, and to help build relationships between children and police.

The Department of Human Services identified more than 70 kids whose families couldn't afford to buy them presents this year. Then, the Fraternal Order of Police and Wal-Mart raised money for $50 gift cards to give the gift of giving to each child.

"There are a lot of folks in the community that are in need and don't have the ability to provide as good a Christmas for their kids as we feel the kids deserve and need," said Claremore Chief of Police Stan Brown.

Brown said he'd "pulled the short straw" this year and was making sure things ran smoothly instead of shopping with a child himself. But there were plenty of law enforcement officers and firefighters who were.

It took place in Claremore at Walmart, the corporal sponsor of the event. Though it's called "Shop with a Cop," there were several public safety agencies represented including fire departments.

"It's good to see the happiness on the kid's face, on the parent's face and on the public safety worker's face," Brown said.

Verdigris Fire Chief Mike Shaffer got to take a little girl down the aisles as she made some Christmas wishes come true.

"I was partnered up with Marti, and she did absolutely phenomenal," Shaffer said. "I can't give away too many secrets, but she might have picked something up for mom."

Dazzled by the sights, the sounds, and the four words every child dreams of hearing…

"Pick what you want," one officer said.

The search is on for this year's must-have gizmos and gadgets. What might surprise you, most of these kids are shopping for someone else.

"It really touches your heart. Some of the kids get presents for their mom, their dad, their brothers or sisters," Claremore Mayor Mickey Perry said.

It's the 10th year for the event, and Shaffer said it's an honor to get to meet the kids and taken them through the store.

Lieutenant Jack Choate of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said he hopes the positive experience between the children and law enforcement officers will leave a lasting impression.

"Let them see the cops are not always the bad guys as we're sometimes portrayed on TV shows or on the news," he said. "We're people too."