Savannah Police brightened the holidays for a dozen local families on the shortest day of the year with their annual "Shop with a Cop" event, treating children to Christmas shopping sprees at no cost to their families.
"It's probably one of our more exciting days of the year," said Assistant Savannah Police Chief Robert Gavin. "We have a bunch of families we're giving some help to at this time to make sure everyone has a good Christmas."
Officers partnered with families in need, allowing children to pick out their favorite toys and essentials, with a $150 limit per child.
"Today means everything, honestly," said Michael Henderson, a community resource officer. "It just shows them that, hey, we're not all bad—we actually care."
While many children gravitated toward toys, officers noted some also selected basic necessities to take home.
Jennifer Williams, one of the participating parents, said watching her children Joseph and Ian fill their carts was unforgettable.
"My favorite part today was just seeing the excitement on their faces," Williams said. "Just walking into the store and being excited, kinda getting overwhelmed—not knowing what to pick up. And at the end, they're happy."
The family finished their shopping in about 30 minutes - with the help of officer Henderson.
"Today is everything. This has just been a great experience," Williams said. "They’re gonna know quite a bit of what they already have, but they’re still gonna be excited to unwrap and experience all the joy with love and family this season."
Savannah Police officers say the event is one of the highlights of their year, and many are willing to pay out of pocket if families exceed their limits to ensure the children’s wishes come true.
