Kids 'Shop With a Cop'

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Some law enforcement officers call it the highlight of their career: helping underprivileged children buy Christmas gifts not only for themselves but for their families.

It's called the "Shop with a Cop" program, and every year hundreds of officers, deputies and troopers donate time and money to help kids who are in need.

If you hang out with them long enough, you realize Santa doesn't always come in a sleigh. From Park City to Brigham City, Santa greeted wailing police cars loaded with kids who were ready to shop.

And what were these kids shopping for? "Pens, shoes, a good book, a doll," one child said.

The doll is for his sister. Like so many other kids who participate in this program, he wasn't buying just for himself. Brandon Rose of the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office, said, "All of them just want to get something for family and friends rather than themselves."

Whether they were shopping for clothes, coats or shoes, it was clear the children weren't the only ones who had fun. Steve Hirzel, of the Park City Police Department, said, "Our officers look forward to this all year."

The children get $100 each to shop. Sometimes if they go over their budget, officers will kick in the extra money. "Quite often we do go over and quite often the officers will dip into their own pockets to make up the difference," Hirzel explained.

It's making a difference to these kids that matters. Park City Police Chief Wade Carpenter said, "They create relationships with us early on."

The relationships are wrapped in concern for these kids and their ability to have a Christmas like any child should.

Children shopped with a cop in Brigham City and Park City today. Next Saturday children from the Salt Lake Valley will participate in the same program.

E-mail: lprichard@ksl.com