Behind the Badge
The kid was asked if he wanted to see the inside of a patrol car.
“Should I get in the back seat?”
The question wasn’t surprising, since the kid — C.J., who just turned 5 — comes from a broken family.
He’s seen his father arrested numerous times, and C.J. and his brother, Cameron, 4, have been removed from their home three times.
The boys are in the process of being adopted by foster parents Troy and Sarah W.
O.C. Sheriff’s Dep. Kaylynn Cramer helps C.J., 5, pick out a LEGO kit during the Shop with a Cop holiday event at Target.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The four attended the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s annual Shop With a Cop on Dec. 9 at a Target in Foothill Ranch.
At the festive shopping spree, deputies — armed with a $100 gift card — were paired up with children, who then purchased whatever their little hearts desired.
As often is the case, deputies dipped into their own money when the kids, inevitably, went over budget.
“This is a ton of fun, and it makes me feel like a kid again,” said Deputy Kaylynn Cramer, who was paired with C.J. It was the second year Cramer participated in OCSD’s Shop With a Cop.
OCSD Commander William Baker makes sure 4-year-old Cy Callan is comfy in his makeshift shopping cart chair as they head out for a Target store holiday shopping spree for the Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
This year marked the first time the majority of the funds for the event — $2,500 — was contributed by the OCSD’s Six Points for Kids, a deputy-driven program that serves needy children through a variety of grassroots projects. The money came from a grant from SoCal Gas.
Deputy Pete Chavez developed the Six Points program with Deputy Mike Leeb and Deputy Jack Mullvain.
“This is one of my favorite events,” said Chavez, a father of three. “I get a lot out of it. In fact, I probably get more joy out of this than the kids do. It picks my spirits up.”
4-year-old Cy Callan takes his turn with Santa before going through the Target store with OCSD deputies at the Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The 20 kids selected to participate in this year’s OCSD Shop With a Cop all are clients of aMAYZing Kids, a non-profit in Lake Forest that offers physical, occupational and speech therapy to special-needs children.
Also, since a broken water line damaged a lot of educational materials at the non-profit in August, 10 therapists at aMAYZing Kids each received $100 through Shop With a Cop proceeds ($500 came from Target, $500 from Six Points) to replace the materials, said Lori Roelofs, clinical director of aMAYZing Kids, temporarily housed in Rancho Santa Margarita.
For the last four years, aMAYZIng Kids has worked directly with Target to plan the event and reach out to ask OCSD deputies to volunteer. Funds in the past have come from other sources, including, Applied Medical, SoCal Gas and Thread Marketing.
O.C. Sheriff’s Dep. Dan Villa helps Maddos Rodriguez, 5, look over toy trucks as they shop together during the Dec. 9 event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
This year, due to the clinic being destroyed, Six Points reached out to aMAYZing Kids and offered to not only fund the gift cards, but help to organize the deputy volunteers as well.
“It was a huge blessing to us and to our morale after a big loss,” Roelefs said.
The throng of deputies at last week’s event, who staged two SUV patrol vehicles outside the Target, lights flashing, for the children to tour, took many shoppers by surprise.
Jean Botana, of Ladera Ranch, was one of the scores of surprised shoppers who happened upon the sea of deputies and kids.
“Can I hug them?” asked Botana, referring to the deputies.
OCSD Undersheriff Don Barnes helps his young charge, Max, pick out toys.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Botana then asked for some junior deputy stickers for her two grandchildren, ages 3 and 7.
“They’re going to love them,” Botana said. “This is absolutely fantastic. It’s a great way to show people the good work law enforcement does.”
Since he was a baby, Grant Paner, 3, has been in speech therapy, said his mother, Melissa Paner.
“I think this event is a great way to give back to the community and also get kids engaged with cops,” Paner said.
As for Grant, well, he wanted Hot Wheels — and to buy gifts for others, too, said his mother.
Six-year-old Janay Floyd gets a free ride through Target from OCSD Dep. Jarlin DeBolt during the Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Deputy Christian Bright, who like many deputies at this year’s event work out of the Orange County Jail’s Intake Release Center, recently was sworn in and was participating in his first Shop With a Cop.
“I want to change people’s perception of law enforcement,” said Bright, 28.
By the end of the evening, C.J. and Cameron had filled their shopping carts with toy cars, LEGO toys, a pirate shop — and much more.
And by the end of the evening, their foster parents — who have three other children ranging in age from 8 to 14, and who own San Clemente-based OC Fish, which designs, installs and maintains aquariums — were filled with gratitude and joy.
“Thank you,” Sarah W. told a deputy, referring to C.J. and Cameron. “You really made a big impact on them.”
O.C. Sheriff’s Dep. Dallas Mihalik takes 3-year-old Aidyn McMullin on a tour of an OCSD patrol car parked outside the Foothill Ranch Target.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Three-year-old Aidyn McMullin has fun inside an OCSD patrol car, part of the Shop with a Cop event at the Foothill Ranch Target on Dec. 9.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Seven-year-old Sophie gets help from Dep. Clara Dossland, left, and Dep. Sophia Cho on which Paw Patrol accessory to pick out during the OCSD’s annual Shop with a Cop event at a Foothill Ranch Target on Dec. 9. Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Eight-year-old Aiden Nolan gets some help picking out a game from OCSD Deputies Daniel Gonzalez, left, and Tyler Gish.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Dep. Lindsey Rodgers helps 4-year-old Zion as he reaches up to push the buttons on a toy dirt mover during the Shop with a Cop event at Target.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Deputies with the O.C. Sheriff’s Department pose at the Target in Foothill Ranch where they participated in the Dec. 9 Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Dep. Kaylynn Cramer helps C.J., 5, walk through the toy section during the Shop with a Cop event at Target.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD deputies gather with children from aMAYZing Kids and Target employees for a group photo.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Therapists from aMAYZing Kids open gifts they received from Shop With a Cop proceeds. The non-profit’s clinic was damaged in a flood over the summer and the therapists lost many educational items. Photo courtesy of Lori Roelefs
Therapists from aMAYZing Kids open gifts they received from Shop With a Cop proceeds. The non-profit’s clinic was damaged in a flood over the summer and the therapists lost many educational items. Photo courtesy of Lori Roelefs
