Corpus Christi Police Officers participated with other area law enforcement in the annual Shop With A Cop program put on by the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Shop With A Cop is a program in which less fortunate children have the opportunity to spend time with a uniformed police officer and receive new clothes, gifts and enjoy lunch. The money for the program is all from donations collected by the Fraternal Order of Police.

The program started in Corpus Christi in 1997 with 10 children and involved only Corpus Christi Police. Fifteen years later, the program involves all area law enforcement and hosts 410 children. The program now is scheduled over several days at several area stores. Seventy officers met December 11, 2012 at the Wal-Mart in Parkdale Plaza with 72 children.

The children area selected by school counselors or by police officers who identify a child as eligible for this program. This is a great opportunity for children to interact with uniformed police officers in a positive environment to develop the understanding that police officers are available for help with problems.

Anyone interested to donate to the Shop With A Cop Program may call 361-442-4787 or send correspondence to Post Office Box 440, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78403.