West Sacramento Chief of Police Robert Strange (front left) and Lieutenant Jason Winger (front right) help Blue Santa lead the pack to Walmart for a fun holiday shopping spree with kids on Saturday, December 9, for the annual Shop with a Cop. Photo courtesy of WSPD

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Holiday cheer was overflowing in West Sacramento this weekend. On Saturday, December 9th, West Sacramento’s annual Shop with a Cop took place. Thirty children, with ages ranging from 8-17, were given $200 to go Christmas Shopping at Walmart with a member of the West Sacramento Police Department, a member of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Deparment or Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.

The group met at Collin’s Teen Center, where the kids all received a Shop with a Cop T-shirt, and they met their partners. Everybody, adults and children alike, were super excited. West Sacramento Police Chief, Rob Strange got up and spoke how much the Police Officers love this program, and how much they all truly enjoy interacting with the community in this way.

“This time of year is obviously important to a lot of us. It’s a time to take pause to give thanks and to help serve. That’s what we’re doing here today. We hope we can really help; we hope that every day, but in times like this we really, truly hope this is something that fills hearts, changes beliefs or opinions sometimes and at the end of the day, we just hope it’s fun!” said Chief Strange.

The kids who are chosen to participate in this program have often been involved in the criminal justice system in some way. Sometimes they are direct victims, their parents are direct victims, they saw or heard things, or they are known in the community and need a little extra love around the holidays. The program is not advertised like the toy drive. The children are chosen from the Police and DA’s office.

The kids were loaded up into vans and cars and in a long caravan of Police, Sheriff and private cars, the group headed to Walmart with full lights and sirens. Many of the kids had a plan as to what they were planning on buying. Most of them bought presents for family members for Christmas, or for friends that they knew would not otherwise be receiving gifts this year.

WSPD K9 Yoda was very enthusiastic about helping Officer Montez at the register. Photo by Michele Townsend

When the caravan arrived at Walmart, the employees lined up outside the door, creating a pathway for the cops and shoppers to enter through, as they applauded. Walmart had decorated shopping carts for the kids to use. The program entered and exited through the garden area, so as not to disturb the other customers.

The staff at Walmart sends their best wishes to West Sacramento kids this holiday season. Photo by Michele Townsend

The kids were each given $200, and if any of the kids went over by a few dollars, each time that happened, that officer or DA employee reached into their own pocket and covered the balance without thinking twice about it. It was truly heartwarming to watch. Even Yoda, the Police K9 was involved and helped his partner for the day. After shopping was complete the group returned to the teen center to wrap gifts so that no surprises were ruined before Christmas.