Behind the Badge
“Code 3 down the aisles!”
That was the declaration heard among a group of 16 Garden Grove Police officers, each pushing a red shopping cart with a child at their side, as they kicked off the GGPD Shop With a Cop event on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at the Target at Harbor Boulevard and Chapman Avenue.
Code 3, of course, is the code used by police to describe an emergency response in which officers need to flip on the red flashing lights and siren and get to a scene … fast!
At Target, it was about officers and their accompanying children navigating the aisles and filling each shopping cart with $100 worth of toys, games, clothes, books and gadgets, all free to the children.
Garden Grove PD Officer Chasen Contreras helps Azucena Fuarez, 11, pick out a Batman/Superman toy for her 3-month-old brother during the department’s Shop with a Cop event at Target.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fourteen of the 16 children selected to receive the Christmas cheer live in the low-income Palma Vista neighborhood, where GGPD is partnering with residents on a year-long project to improve residents’ quality of life.
Camila Bello, 8, couldn’t contain her joy after using her $100 on a new bike and helmet.
“I’m so happy,” Camila said. “The other bike I have … I can’t fit in it. It’s too small.”
Camila’s mom, Mirna Quintero, said her daughter had been asking for a bike, but she would not have been able to afford it. “I’m not working right now,” Quintero said. “I’m going through a lot. I’m trying to survive cancer. I’m thankful that (the police) took the time to come out here to do this for the children.”
Garden Grove PD Sgt. John Reynolds keeps an eye on his shopping partner as Victoria, 5, watches intently as the Christmas presents she bought are wrapped during the GGPD’s Shop with a Cop event at Target.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Many of the young shoppers picked out presents not only for themselves, but for their siblings and parents.
“Because they don’t have anything for Christmas yet,” said Azucena Suarez, when asked why she was selecting gifts for her five siblings and mom and dad. “I haven’t given them anything.”
Leo Bonola, 10, filled his cart with Monopoly and other games.
Why?
“I can play it with my family,” Leo said.
Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin introduces the officers who volunteered their time at the start of the GGPD’s Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Garden Grove club donated $500 and Seaside Inland Transport Inc. in Garden Grove donated $1,000 to make Shop With A Cop possible.
The Target store, managed by Lisa Boylin, also provided gift-wrapping stations, wrapping paper and refreshments.
In many cases, the items in the shopping cart exceed the $100 limit and when that happened, Target made up the difference.
Garden Grove PD Officer Jason Johnson takes Janitzy, 9, through Target to help her shop for Christmas presents during the Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
So did Off. Ryan Bustillos, who kicked in about $20 out of his own pocket so his young shopper could walk out with everything she wanted.
“I’m not going to deny her,” Bustillos said. “This is what the season is all about. It’s about the kids. It’s about giving back to the community. I don’t have kids of my own so I’m glad I can help somebody else.”
GGPD Chief Todd Elgin said he was proud of the officers who volunteered for the shopping spree on their time off, many having just gotten off duty from graveyard shifts.
“This is the part of the job that makes us feel good,” Elgin said. “It’s an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than us.”
Garden Grove PD Officer John Yergler helps out as 6-year-old Alan Guerra participates in the department’s Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Leonardo Vonola, 10, carries the result of his shopping spree with the help of Garden Grove PD Officer Chuck Starnes.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Camila Bello, 8, flashes a big smile after picking out a brand-new bicycle at Target during the Garden Grove PD’s Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove PD Officer Michael Elhami stands with a smiling Andrew Guerra, 8, after helping him out with his shopping choices.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove PD Officer Jeremy Morse talks to the kid he partnered with for GGPD’s Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Frankie, 6, and Leo, 10, have their photo taken with Officer Jeremy Morse, left, Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin and Officer Chuck Starnes.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
