Representatives of the West Sacramento Police Department meet Santa in Walmart during the Shop with a Cop event. Photo courtesy of the West Sacramento Police Department

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - At 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14, the West Sacramento Police Department hosted its ninth annual Shop with a Cop event.

This event hosted 30 local West Sacramento youth on a $200 shopping spree at Walmart. Students were selected in conjunction with the Washington Unified School District Outreach Team, the Collings Teen Center and the Yolo County District Attorney’s office for a variety of reasons, including being at risk, family financial struggles, previous interaction with the judicial system and showing marked behavioral improvement.

A West Sacramento Police Department officer shops with a local youth, who picked out a bike. Photo courtesy of the West Sacramento Police Department

This event gave local youth an opportunity to have positive interactions with officers and district attorneys, while adding a bit of holiday cheer to a time that is financially difficult for many West Sacramento families. In years past, this event has been a first opportunity for many local youths to purchase a gift not only for themselves, but for family as well, and this year was no different.

The group met at 8 a.m. at the Collings Teen Center, where students met the Officers and Deputy District Attorneys they were paired with to shop. Around 8:45 a.m., there was a caravan from the Collings Teen Center to Walmart where the group met with Walmart Associates in the Garden Center before heading into the store to shop.

On Dec. 14, local West Sacramento children got to go on a shopping spree with the West Sacramento Police Department. Santa was there for the fun, as well. Photo courtesy of the West Sacramento Police Department

Once shopping was completed and photos had been taken with Santa and his elves, the caravan returned to the Collings Teen Center, where there was a light lunch and an opportunity for gift wrapping before the youth headed home.

“This is among our most rewarding events to host and is so meaningful in creating lasting relationships with the youth in our community,” said Taylor Nelson, division manager of the West Sacramento Police Department Community Outreach and Support.

This event was made possible through a grant from Walmart, in partnership with Washington Unified School District and the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.