Behind the Badge
Not too many 13-year-olds would describe an adult as being “cool.”
But that was the exact word Michelle Penafiel used to describe La Habra police officer Nate Garcia as he accompanied the Washington Middle School student on a $150 shopping spree through the Target store on Imperial Highway.
La Habra Police Officer Nate Garcia, right, poses for a photo with Washington Middle School student Kevin Garcia, 13, one of six who got to Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
The La Habra Police Department, with help from some generous community groups, picked up the tab.
Garcia, a school resource officer, was the main organizer of La Habra Police Department’s Shop with a Cop campaign, where police officers take deserving youngsters shopping. Officers are paired up with a young person and help them shop.
La Habra Police Officer Mario Velasquez with Imperial Middle School student Charlene Santana, 13, one of six students who got to Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
In this case, Penafiel was doing her Christmas shopping, picking out gifts for relatives and friends while Garcia pushed around the shopping cart and gave his opinion on items.
“He is fun,” Panafiel said of Garcia. “He is helping me with a lot of stuff. I’m surprised. Not a lot of people get this opportunity.”
La Habra Police Officer Mario Velasquez with Imperial Middle School student, Charlene Santana, 13, one of six students who got to Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Lt. Jim Tigner, who oversees the school resource officer program, said it had been a few years since La Habra Police Department participated in Shop with a Cop and decided to resurrect the campaign.
“I knew we were approaching that time of year and wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the opportunity,” Tigner said. “So, I had a discussion with Officer Garcia and I said this is your mission, so run with it.”
Imperial Middle School student Adrian Casillas, 13, center, shows his mother Claudia Casillas, left, a pair of shorts as La Habra Police Officers Mark Milward and Justin Bender, right, look on. Adrian is one of six students who got to Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Garcia checked with neighboring agencies on the best ways to implement Shop with a Cop and reached out to local businesses and community groups for donations to pay for the Target gift cards.
Contributors included the La Habra Lions Club, Bev’s Quilting Cabin, the La Habra Police Association, and the La Habra Police Administration.
Garcia collaborated with school guidance counselors in an effort select which students would receive the gift cards.
Imperial Middle School student Adrian Casillas, 13, looks for a DVD as he and La Habra Police Officer Justin Bender share a laugh during Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
“It was little bit of everything,” said Julie Cruz, guidance counselor at Washington Middle School. “It was based on several things. Some kids have been through or are going through a lot and just kind of needed something good to happen to them … I love the fact that we have school resource officers on our campus that make positive connections with our students.”
“We wanted to get some kids who have come from families in our community, kids that are doing the right thing. These are good kids who are trying hard despite where they come from and the hardships they have at home,” Garcia said.
Washington Middle School student Michelle Penafiel, 13, finds what she wanted as La Habra Police Officer Nate Garcia helps during Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Community Services Officer Mario Velasquez, who was participating in Shop with a Cop for the first time, said he “had a blast” helping Las Positas student Charlene Santana pick out clothes.
“It was a lot of fun,” Velasquez said. “She kept telling me how much she loves police officers.”
Imperial Middle School student Adrian Casillas, 13, goes through what he’s about to buy at Target. Adrian is one of six students who got to Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
The La Habra Police Department loves its community and takes every opportunity to show it, constantly finding new and or creative ways to get involved. When you add children, there isn’t an employee that wouldn’t drop everything to help or be involved. This event was just another example of that. Whether they are a School Resource Officer, Community Services Officer, Reserve Officer, Detective, or Police Chaplain and Emotional Support K9, all were there to support a great cause.
Imperial Middle School student Adrian Casillas, 13, and his mother Claudia Casillas with La Habra Police Officers Justin Bender and Mark Milward, left.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Washington Middle School student Nicholas Mejia, 13, shops with La Habra Police Officer Jim Geer at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Washington Middle School student Nicholas Mejia, 13, shops with La Habra Police Officer Jim Geer. Nicholas is one of six students who got to Shop with a Cop in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Washington Middle School student Nicholas Mejia, 13, shops with La Habra Police Officer Jim Geer at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Washington Middle School student Nicholas Mejia, 13, shops with La Habra Police Officer Jim Geer. Nicholas is one of six students who got to Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Imperial Middle School student Carolina Chavarria, 12, shops with La Habra Police officers during Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Imperial Middle School student Carolina Chavarria, 12, shops with La Habra Police officers during Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Imperial Middle School student Carolina Chavarria, 12, shops with La Habra Police officers during Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Members of the La Habra Police Department took six students from Imperial and Washington middle schools on a shopping spree during Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
Members of the La Habra Police Department took six students from Imperial and Washington middle schools on a shopping spree during Shop with a Cop at Target in La Habra.
Photo by Stephen Carr/Behind the Badge
