The township’s annual “Kid ‘N Cops” program puts free Christmas toys and other gifts in the hands of youngsters who often have to do without during the holiday season.
Officers — in full uniform — paired up with young boys and girls at the West Chester Meijer store on Tylersville Road. The officers pushed shopping carts — often at a brisk pace — to keep up with the excited children as they scampered down aisles to gather their share of $5,000 in merchandise paid for by the store.
“She was very shy and quiet to start with,” said West Chester Police Chief Joel Herzog of the 10-year-old girl he helped to shop for Christmas presents. “But as we started to shop she opened up. And she got me going at a fast pace, and I had to really move that shopping cart to keep up.”
It was Herzog’s eighth year of joining other volunteers for the annual event and he said it’s a welcome relief from officers’ usual serious and occasionally sad interaction with children during their policing.
“As police out in the community we often see a lot of underprivileged kids. But this is something we can do that is positive. They (children) are so grateful and they often start shopping for their brothers, sisters and other family members. They are looking for how they can help,” he said.
“Anytime you are dealing with kids, you are dealing with innocence and it’s really heart-warming to see the joy you can bring to them,” said Herzog.
That’s why they do it, said Andrew Reeder, public relations coordinator for the Butler County township.
“Kids ‘N Cops is a heartwarming holiday tradition that’s generously supported by sponsors including the West Chester Fraternal Order of Police, the West Chester Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, and Meijer,” said Reeder.
West Chester Police Captain Joe Gutman said he was touched emotionally even before the event, which includes a free dinner on site after the shopping, began.
“Some of these kids have a pretty tough life. They showed up with social workers because they didn’t have parents. And they mentioned deaths in their families,” said Gutman.
But the glumness soon dissipated.
“I was very rewarding for all of us. I saw as many smiles on the officers’ faces as I did on the kids,” Gutman said.
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