Shopping with cheer: Third-annual OBPD Shop with a Cop takes over Walmart

A total of 25 students from five local elementary schools were partnered with police officers for the program.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 2:50 p.m. December 7, 2019

Officer Carlos Ortiz and Teron Rayam have fun shopping together during the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Police officers wait to be paired up with a child for the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Chiann Mims is ready to go shopping with Officer Cade Norton at the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Officer Robert Pearson and Treyrone Allen wave during the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Lt. Thomas Elkins and Daniel Weaver are ready to shop during the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Sgt. Jim Voegtle picks Michael Hernandez up during the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Pyppir Van Wagner and Officer Cierra Devane are ready to shop during the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Cpl. John Dovine and Aleaha Brantley are excited to shop during the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Cpl. Jay Brennan, Angela Millsap, Chief Jesse Godfrey and Kennedy Postell wheel into Walmart at the third-annual Shop with a Cop event on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Zane Bertram is ready to shop at the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ta'deja Hinson, shopping with Officer Jessica Fowler, picks out a new toy at the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Michael Hernandez picks a new toy at the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

A'Lanni Tillman browses the aisles as Officer Gregory Stokes waits to help her fill up her cart at the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Officer Cade Norton points out a new toy for Chiann Mims at the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Kayden Weaver shops with Officer Kevin Myers during the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Kennedy Postell shops with Chief Jesse Godfrey during the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Savannah Neely picks out a lightsaber during the third-annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

A shopping cart, tinsel, $100 and several aisles of toys.

Ormond Beach Police Department's third-annual Shop with a Cop program on Friday, Dec. 6, granted 25 children from the five local elementary schools with a chance to Christmas shop for themselves and their family members, and to do so with a police officer. OBPD partners with Walmart every December to bring this program to fruition.

The program aims to create a positive relationship between officers and students, a press release states. The kids arrived at Walmart with a motorcade of police vehicles, complete with flashing lights and sirens. From dolls and stuffed animals to lightsabers and toy trucks, the kids perused the store aisles and picked anything they wanted, up to their $100 limit.