Photo courtesy of Dallas County Sheriff Benevolent Association

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Benevolent Association carried on a tradition to bring holiday cheer to youngsters.

Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante says the annual Shop with a Cop involved 50 children from across the county and 39 law enforcement officers participated from the sheriff’s office, to the metro police departments and the state patrol. Infante points out that Shop with a Cop is one of his favorite Saturdays of the year and he talks about another part of this program that he believes is important.

“We know these kids sometimes, we know their families a lot of times. It also helps us establish a bond with the schools. The schools refer us to people and they’ll point out that this family’s had a hardship, that house that burned down, or the dad lost his job. We know these people, we don’t realize the drama that’s going on in the background, or we don’t associate those. So there is a connection there with the community for sure.”      

Infante says everyone meets at the Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School commons and carpools to the West Des Moines Walmart. Each kid received $125 to spend on their family and themselves. Then, family, friends and loved ones with law enforcement meet up to help wrap the gifts. Infante adds donations are accepted all year by mailing them to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Benevolent Association, earmarked for Shop with a Cop.