SHOP WITH A COP

It may still be several weeks until Christmas, but area law enforcers are already getting a jump on their holiday shopping.

Police officers from Owatonna and deputies and detention center employees from Steele County sprang into action during the annual Shop with a Cop program Nov. 8 at Target in Owatonna. Specifically, they were buying Christmas gifts for 24 area children in need.

Each child was paired up with a law enforcement officer, who guided them on picking out gifts for themselves as well as other family members. The children in grades K-5 were allowed to pick out gifts totaling $200 each. The $4,800 for the shopping was provided by the Steele County Salvation Army.

Target employees assisted the officers with directing them to areas where they would find what they needed and also wrapping the gifts once they were picked out.

Besides shopping, the children were also provided a meal from Subway and refreshments from Starbucks. Quilts made by two area churches were also provided to the families.

“It was fun watching all the smiles on the faces of children when they were paired up with officers,” said Sheriff Lon Thiele. “The benefit of this is the networking and connecting you have with children that may pay off in later days.”

Thiele said the reason they chose to shop in early November is to get to the store before everything is picked over. “We want to give each child a better selection of clothing,” he said, noting most are provided with winter gear.

“This is a great style of community policing and interaction with the public that law enforcement performs,” Thiele says. “It’s a great success anytime you get a room full of children with smiles.”

The Shop with a Cop program has been in existence locally since Thiele became sheriff in 2011.