Boy Rescued By Police Among Kids Participating In APD Shop With A Cop

AURORA, IL — On Saturday, Aurora police officers got together with 45 participants to host their annual Shop with a Cop event at Meijer.

The event, meant to foster positive interactions between police and Aurora's youth, pairs officers with children to help them shop for gifts during the holiday season.

Among the participants was the 9-year-old boy, Tyshaun LaFlores, who was rescued by officers after he fell through ice in a pond on Fox Pointe Drive Nov. 23. His attendance was "heartwarming to see," police said in a news release.

During Shop with a Cop, LaFlores was reunited with Officer Andrew Soderlund, one of the two officers who jumped into the pond the day before Thanksgiving to save the boy who fell when he went to get his football off the surface of a pond, Patch reported.

"It was really nice being able to come out and meet Tyshaun again under a lot less stressful circumstances and give back and get into the Christmas spirit and get some good Christmas shopping done," Soderlund said at the event.

Officers also rescued a woman who waded into the water to try to save the boy. He wasn't able to get his football, but police made sure to buy him a new one.

RELATED: Boy, Woman Rescued By Cops After Boy Falls Through Ice In Aurora

Police said they were able to host Saturday's event, which lasted from 9-11:15 a.m., due in part to a $1,000 donation from Oswego-based Proforma Awards Print and Promotions.