County Law Agencies Helped Bring Cheer to Local Children

Group photo of San Diego County Probation officers and their student partners at SeaWorld for Shop With a Cop 2021.

Over the weekend, officers from the San Diego County Probation Department and deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department volunteered their time to spend a fun-filled day with school age children that culminated with a $200 shopping spree.

The Shop With a Cop event came roaring back Saturday, Dec. 4 after taking the 2020 year off due to the pandemic. More than 300 children and officers from law enforcement agencies throughout the San Diego region were paired up and headed to SeaWorld for breakfast and a private marine animal show. Afterward, they returned to the fleet of patrol vehicles and headed out in a convoy with lights and sirens to the Target store on Sports Arena Boulevard. Along the way, residents lined up on the streets in the Rosecrans area and waved at the law enforcement parade.

A San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy with her student partner get ready to shop.

San Diego County Probation had 32 officers and six professional staff taking part this year. The department adopted Montgomery, Central and Lafayette elementary schools.

Probation Officer Cecilia Orozco said she has participated for several years and was paired with a third-grade girl this year.

Probation Officers check out the toy aisles at Target.

“It’s been an honor for me to help the community, the lower economic populations, especially the younger kids,” Orozco said. “Shop With a Cop is a beautiful event and shows the kids we care.”

Orozco said the girl bought herself a lot of dolls and some popcorn and candy she planned to share with her family. For Orozco the most rewarding thing was when the girl told her that after spending the day with the officers, it genuinely sparked her interest in a career in law enforcement.

Probation Officer Callie Davis (left) and Probation Officer Cecilia Orozco with their student partners for Shop With a Cop 2021.

Probation Officer Callie Davis said this was only her second time pairing up with a child. She partnered with a 10-year-old boy for the day.

“He was excited. He loved SeaWorld and the dolphins and Target,” Davis said. “He was a good kid.”

The boy used his gift card to buy various LEGO sets for himself and a few board games, she said.

Often the children would go over the spending limit, and she witnessed many officers making up the difference for the child they were assigned.

A Sheriff's deputy helps his partner find some Christmas presents for himself.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department not only sent deputies but also dispatched their Sheriff Ambassador volunteer “Surf Dog Teddy” to greet children.

All the children also received four tickets to visit SeaWorld later as a family. All children were selected by counselors, teachers and officer referrals. Law enforcement from over 20 different local, state and federal agencies participated in the 28th annual event which was hosted this year by STAR/PAL and the Coronado and Harbor police departments.

San Diego County Sheriff's deputies and their students pose with the Sheriff's animal ambassador Surf Dog Teddy.