Behind the Badge
When Santa rolled into the parking lot of the Westminster Walmart, he came not with eight tiny reindeer, but a cavalcade of motorcycle officers.
“No reindeer today,” someone commented.
“Impressive sleigh,” another noticed of Santa’s ride, a West County SWAT BearCat armored vehicle.
The moment marked the beginning of the 16th annual Shop with a Cop, a community outreach event organized by the Westminster Police Officers’ Association in conjunction with Fountain Valley police and the Boys & Girls Club.
The event paired about 40 children, many from the Boys & Girls Club, with Westminster and Fountain Valley police personnel as they perused the aisles of the Beach Boulevard Walmart looking for gifts. Each child received a donated $100 Walmart gift card, as well as a McDonald’s breakfast and additional $100 Stater Bros. gift card to be spent later.
Records Specialists Lusine Gevorgyan, left, and Sandra Barrera help Amanda Lopez, 10, with her holiday shopping during Shop with a Cop at Walmart.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
About 20 Westminster police personnel participated.
Sgt. Phuong Pham, a 21-year Westminster police veteran, thanked Walmart and Stater Bros. for their donations, calling Shop with a Cop a true team effort.
“In police work, it’s a collaborative effort,” he said. “It takes a whole community.”
Pham, who accompanied 5-year-old Michael Jersin on his shopping spree, noted that many children weren’t just buying toys for themselves; they were getting gifts for their siblings and parents, too.
Records Specialists Sandra Barrera, left, and Lusine Gevorgyan of Westminster Police Department, pose with Santa Claus and Amanda Lopez, 10, before starting Westminster Police Department’s Shop with a Cop event at Walmart.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“I know what it feels like not to have a lot of stuff,” Pham added, referring to his own childhood. “There are people out there who care. I think that’s what we want to show them, that we do care about them. We also want them to see us in a different light.
“We want to show them we’re not scary officers. We are helpers.”
Ngan Pham, a 17-year-old Westminster Police Explorer who wants to join law enforcement and the military, said she enjoys her role in helping the community.
“You can go around helping the kids, finding gifts for them,” she said. “It’s very cool.”
Westminster Police Department Officer J. Romero helps 8-year-old Mia Carrasco check out toys at Walmart during the Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Sandra Barrera and Lucy Gevorgvan, police records specialists, accompanied Amanda Lopez, 10, on her shopping trip. They visited the games aisle, passing by the various “Monopoly” editions and “Olaf’s Ice Adventure.”
Barerra said she loves helping the children and enjoys the bonding experience.
“We show the community that we’re here to help them,” she said, “to have a moment from our busy jobs and spend time with them.”
Detective Jerad Kent, a 12-year department veteran, said he participates in Shop with a Cop every year.
Kids reach out to Santa as he makes his way down the line during the start of Westminster and Fountain Valley police departments’ Shop with a Cop event at Walmart.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
His paired child, Jonathan Amador, 8, got particularly excited when finding a blue “Star Wars” lightsaber.
“I’ll take that!” Jonathan said, excitedly.
Kent noted how each holiday season the event helps families.
“We can give them a little something,” he said, “a little joy during the holiday season.”
Westminster police officers gather with Santa at the conclusion of the department’s Shop with a Cop event at Walmart.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Westminster Police Det. Jerad Kent helps 8-year-old Jonathan Amador pick out a Lightsaber during Shop with a Cop at Walmart.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Westminster Police Dispatcher Kristen Kannard and her son, Chasen Kannard, 8, help 10-year-old Jordan Adger in the toy section of Walmart during Shop with a Cop.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Santa makes his entrance in a SWAT vehicle at the start of Westminster and Fountain Valley police departments’ Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Santa makes his way down the line of kids at the start of Shop with a Cop with Westminster and Fountain Valley officers at Walmart.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Ten-year-old Melanie Romo carries a plush jumbo bear to the checkout stand at Walmart after Westminster Police Officer B. Gleason helped her pick it out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Westminster Officers Michael Wheeler, left, and Mike Ogawa help 9-year-old Nathan Leon with holiday gifts as they look in the LEGO section during Shop with a Cop.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Fountain Valley Police Officer Nhu Nguyen, left, and Westminster Police Officer J. Romero join Santa under the tree at Walmart.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Members of Westminster and Fountain Valley police departments, along with their K9s, gather with Santa at the entrance to Walmart at the conclusion of the annual Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
