Shop 'til you drop: Local police officers take children on a shopping spree

The Ormond Beach Police Department held their first-ever Shop With a Cop event on Friday, Dec. 9.

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It's been a tough few weeks for the McMahon family.

Trent McMahon's father died just before Thanksgiving due to a drug-related condition. McMahon, 11, learned about his father's death when he arrived at his house after going skating. Neither he nor his 17-year-old sister Cassie Daniello had seen him in over a year due to his addiction, and they would never get the chance to.

“We were trying to get him back with me before Christmas, but it didn’t work either," McMahon said. "This happened and I did not like it. Because it was horrible, how he had to pass away because we couldn’t do anything about it.”

His sister has been with him through it all, making sure he was OK at all times. She has put her own teenage life on hold while their family recovers from the loss.

“It’s been really hard for Trent and us, but we’re getting through it together," Daniello said.

McMahon was one of the children from Osceola Elementary chosen to participate in the Ormond Beach Police Department's first-ever Shop With a Cop event held on Friday, Dec. 9. Each child was paired up with a police officer and given a budget of $100 to buy whatever they wanted at Walmart. The children climbed into a bus at the police station and personally escorted to Walmart by the police officers, who drove in their motorcycles and patrol cars in front and behind them.

After their shopping spree, the children and their families enjoyed a cookout with the officers outside of the store.

McMahon was paired up with OBPD's Community Outreach Officer Jay Brennan, who was recommended to him by his aunt, a police officer in the Daytona Beach Police Department.

“He has good and bad days, but he was very excited to come here, that’s for sure," said Amber McMahon, Trent McMahon's mother.

“I think I’m going to remember it forever."

OBPD Community Outreach Officer Jay Brennan

Amber McMahon said he needed something to get his mind off their family's recent tragedy and this was a good way to do so. She said her son has always had respect for law enforcement officers, often making them stop whenever they see one so that he can shake their hands. So for a cop to take him shopping, it was an exciting opportunity.

He was even considering getting his hair cut for the occasion, but decided to wear his Spider-Man hat instead.

Because of Trent McMahon's autism, his mother said he tends to get really enthusiastic about upcoming events he is looking forward to. The Shop With a Cop opportunity trumped the special showing of the Blue Man group they planned to attend the next day — surprising Amber McMahon and Daniello because Trent McMahon wants to be part of the group when he grows up. He's seen them perform 11 times.

“He actually can play the Blue Man on like a tablet or whatever, and play along with them in the driveway," Amber McMahon said. "It’s pretty amazing.”

Together with Brennan, Trent McMahon spent Shop With a Cop wandering through the sports and fishing aisles, putting footballs, protective gloves, fish hooks and a new pole in their cart. Trent McMahon said he used to go fishing with his dad. One time, he said they even caught a 10-pound bluegill.

For Brennan, the event was more than just about helping the children buy toys for Christmas. He said it was about the experience.

“I think I’m going to remember it forever,” Brennan said.

But Christmas shopping isn't quite over for Trent McMahon. Like many 11-year-olds, he's still waiting for a present from Santa. This year, he's hoping for a new bike.

“I’m waiting for it to come because I just did not want to ask Santa for it because he might get freaked out,” Trent McMahon said.

 

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