Santa Ana police team up with kids for festive shopping trip

By Erica Leal

Wearing reindeer antler headbands and Santa hats, a group of young Santa Ana residents roamed the aisles of Macy’s, eager to find the perfect purchase just in time for Christmas. As they sifted through toys and clothes, Santa Ana Police Department officers and personnel trailed behind their shopping buddies, carrying the Macy’s bags quickly piling up with gifts.

“I got so many things!” one youngster cheered, hugging her new bubblegum pink purse to her chest.

“This is the best day ever!” shouted another, peeking at the Hot Wheels racetrack in his bag.

Leaving with bright smiles and their arms full of presents, this year’s Shop with a Cop event ensured that each child's holiday season contains a little extra joy.

Shop with a Cop is a tradition dating back at least 20 years at the Santa Ana Police Department. Each holiday season, officers and other department personnel volunteer their time to take local youth shopping, spreading cheer one gift at a time.

This year’s event took place on December 9 with 30 kids receiving a $100 shopping spree to Macy’s at the MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana. Aside from the shopping trip, each child also took a photo with Santa and received a Christmas gift box and stocking.

The children come from low-income backgrounds or have been impacted by crime or other hardships, says Commander Maria Lopez, who oversees the department’s community engagement team. Some children are recommended by local school districts or by officers who interacted with them during a call.

“For many of these kids, their first time seeing and interacting with law enforcement was during a traumatic experience,” she says. “So, when we host events like Shop with a Cop, it’s an opportunity for us to give them a positive experience to replace those memories with.”

In fact, while Shop with a Cop is funded by the department and community donations, officers never hesitate to give more, often paying out of their own pockets to ensure every child can take home everything on their holiday wish list.

“It's about giving back to our community,” says Police Service Officer Erika Baca as she watches the young shoppers navigate the department store, grabbing Spider-Man action figures, Play-Doh and more. “These kids are so young, and they’ve been through tough times, so we try to make this as cheerful as we can. We want to make sure that they remember this forever.”

The day's festivities also stick with department volunteers like Motor Officer Jaime Lopez, who has volunteered for Shop with a Cop for the last five years.

It’s a nice change of pace from responding to 911 dispatch calls, he says, and each year he looks forward to returning to help create lasting memories with the community’s youth.

This year, Lopez accompanied a 7-year-old girl named Sammy, who picked out toys that she and her three siblings could play with, and even stopped for Mrs. Fields cookies on their way back.

“She was so excited that she got here early and hid the toys she wanted behind others. When we started shopping, she took me to her secret hiding place to find them,” he says. “Seeing her so happy was the highlight of the day for me.”

Like Sammy, many of the children choose to spend part of their gift cards to buy presents for family members.

Seeing their selflessness, even in the face of life adversities, touches the officers’ hearts, says Baca.

As the young shoppers reunited with their families, they rushed to show off their new belongings — from Pokémon stuffed animals and Barbie dolls to new shoes and school uniforms.

A chorus of ‘thank-yous’ filled the room as the shopping partners parted, but the joy prevailed, reminding officers of the impact they can make in the community even among its youngest members.

"We spend months planning this event,” Baca said. “But when it finally comes together and we see their little smiling faces, it’s all worth it. This is what makes our job so rewarding.”

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