Christmas was made a little brighter for about 70 local children who got to see law enforcement “in a different light.”
The annual Officer Mike Davis Shop with a Cop — named in honor of former Middletown School Resource Officer Mike Davis who died in 2013 — was held recently at Meijer. The 69 children were recommended by Middletown police officers and Butler County school officials, said Denny Jordan, a Middletown police officer who helped organize the event with Mary Miller, secretary of the detective section.
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The children from about 50 families were assisted by a representative from the Middletown Division of Police and they were allowed to spend $100 on “whatever they wanted,” Jordan said. He said a few children wanted to purchase Christmas gifts for their parents, but they were encouraged to buy for themselves.
“It was a free-for-all,” Jordan said. “It’s a great opportunity to give back to everybody that we serve. Most of these kids we see day-to-day. At least monthly. It’s good to see them in a happy environment. Big smiles on their faces. They see us in a different light.”
Jordan said members of the Middletown police department and their families and representatives from the State Highway Patrol donated their time to help the children.
Meijer donated $5,000 to the program and other donations were received by Grand Temple Phythian Sisters of Ohio, Eagles, Homemakers Circle 9, Gary Hoff, Ohio State Patrol Troop 8 and Christ United Methodist Church.
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