Local children stood beside /officers of the Wareham Police Department to indulge in some holiday retail therapy on Monday, Dec. 16, in an annual event known as “Shop with a Cop” at the Wareham Crossing Target store.

“I felt like… it hit exactly where it should,” said Officer Dean Decas said.

Ten kids were each paired with a officer to roam the store and spend $100 to purchase gifts for family members, friends and themselves.

The gifts were then wrapped by the children with assistance from Target “elves."

“This is, by far, the best day of the year that I get to work at Target,” said Angela King, asset protection leader. “We applied for a grant from Target to do this, and very few stores from the area got it, so we were so happy.”

School Resource Officer Karl Baptiste, with recommendations provided by school staff, selected elementary-school-aged children to participate.

“We don’t usually get to see kids in a happy setting,” said Baptiste. “Kids enjoy seeing officers as human beings, not figures of authority.”

“These were kids who may not have had a Christmas,” said King.

Interim Police Chief Kevin Walsh said that while the event was fun for the children, the participating police officers found the evening just as enjoyable, as they shopped throughout Target with their newly assigned partners.

“What made an impression on all officers was that the children thought of their parents and siblings before themselves as they shopped,” said Walsh.

“They were so cute. A lot of children had lists for their family members,” King said.

She gave the example of one shopper who wanted to buy cookie mix and frosting so his grandmother and he could make Christmas cookies together.

The children and their parents were treated to pizza and soda prior to their shopping spree.