Police Escort Eight Kids on a Bayshore Holiday Shopping Spree

In an effort to help underprivileged kids have a happier holiday, and improve the image of police among youth, Liaison Officer Kelly DeJonge planned this year's "Shop with a Cop" event, where eight kids will go on a shopping spree with uniformed Glendale police officers. 

"It's a way to give back to the community, to kids who are unfortunately not able to have as nice of gifts if it wasn't for a little help," DeJonge said.

The Glendale Police union will donate $100 to each kid who has been chosen by their principal and guidance counselor at Parkway Elementary School in Glendale.

Each student will have their own uniformed officer to spend the day with, beginning with the $100 shopping spree at Kohls, and ending at iPic in Bayshore Town Centre where the group will bowl and have a complementary lunch.

The Glendale Police have run the program three years already, and DeJonge said she enjoys seeing how excited the kids get.

"I did it with a girl, and it was fun to watch her pick out all the clothes in there and say, 'I want that, and I want that,'" DeJonge said. "It's just a feel-good event."

The kids are second and third graders, and DeJonge said she hopes the special day will help improve the image kids have of police officers so they feel more comfortable talking to them.

"It's a good age group where they start to realize, 'Oh, this is wonderful, I'm here with an officer and they're heaping me out,'" DeJonge said. "It gives them a chance to see police in a different role."