This annual Christmas event has become a favorite among officers, volunteers and law enforcement staff that plan and/or participate in the program.
Each year officers are paired with a child (ages 5 to 12) from the community that would benefit from a positive experience with law enforcement. Children are chosen to participate based on if they’ve had an adverse experience with law enforcement, i.e. they’ve witnessed their parent being arrested or they’ve been involved in a criminal investigation. The hope is that this program will improve or build a positive relationship between law enforcement and the child.
On the day of the event, the child and officer are paired
together during an opening breakfast. The child and the officer then
drive with lights and sirens blaring to the store where they then spend
the next hour to two hours shopping. Together the child and officer
purchases a gift for each of the child’s immediate family member.
Between 30 to 40 children from all over Bonneville County and officers
from IFPD, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police,
Idaho State and Bonneville County Probation, Idaho Fish and Game and
volunteers from the Idaho Falls Citizen’s Watch Patrol participate in
the program.
Sponsors
This
program is possible through the sponsorship of Kmart, Texas Roadhouse,
the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center, Help, Inc., and the
many people that donate.