Christmas comes early for children who 'Shop with a Cop'

By Laurie K. Blandford

• Posted December 22, 2009 at 4:32 p.m.

FORT PIERCE — Christmas came a little early for 7-year-old Jeremiah Ward of Fort Pierce.

His mother, Vivian, said he awoke early and excited Tuesday morning to join 55 other children to “Shop with a Cop,” the fifth annual shopping spree where city police officers are paired with children to help them spend $75 gift cards at the Walmart store on Okeechobee Road.

“I thought it would be a good experience for him because he wants to be a police officer,” she said.

Jeremiah picked up a Bop It toy, plastic cars and a ramp for them before leaving his mom to find presents for her and his grandmother.

He began to look through window curtains for his grandmother, but crime prevention officer Damian Spotts directed him to the holiday gift basket aisle.

They’ve known each other about six months through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and Spotts nominated Jeremiah to go shopping because of his improved grades.

Most officers choose kids they have met in the past year, said Police Chief Sean Baldwin, who handed out the gifts cards beside an officer dressed as Santa Claus.

“They recognize the need for the kids,” he said. “(For) some of the kids, this is their Christmas.”

The number of children has grown each year, Baldwin said, and this year was the biggest. The Walmart Foundation and Sam’s Club gave the police department a $1,500 grant it used to add about 20 more children to the usual amount.

Baldwin said the department started the program in 2005 after back-to-back damaging hurricane seasons. He said shopping together also helps children who have seen officers negatively in the past.

“We just saw so many families that were hurting and in need,” Baldwin said. “It’s just a perfect way for these officers to spend a little bit of time with these kids and build a personal relationship.”

Officer Dani Dreizehnter brought a calculator to help 11-year-old Korey Thompson and his sister, 7-year-old Kourtney, keep track of their spending.

Dreizehnter had participated every year because she works with juveniles, she said, and some children can’t control being disadvantaged.

When they checked out, their basket was filled with a video game, a baby doll and two bikes — one pink and one blue.

“Today I got what I want — I got a game and a bike,” Korey explained with big smile. “It makes my Christmas a lot better than I thought it was going to be.”