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Kids get shopping trip with Oxford police

Meagan Engle The Day family and Officer Ben Holl check out at Walmart.

Meagan Engle Matthew and Micheal (cq) Day shop for toys with Oxford police Officer Ben Holl and Christina Holl at Walmart Thursday, Dec. 17.

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By Meagan Engle, Staff Writer 11:58 AM Tuesday, December 22, 2009

OXFORD — This year Santa’s helpers wore a badge.

The Big Man in the Red Suit got some help last week from Oxford police officers, who went shopping with 25 local kids for the annual program pairing youngsters and police.

Twelve officers paired with the kids to find toys, clothes and other goodies in the aisles of Walmart Thursday, Dec. 17.

Walmart donated $2,000 for the event.

The Day family and Oxford police Officer Ben Holl hit the toy aisles. The three boys happily searched the possibilities, trying on shoes and smiling as they hit buttons that caused toy figures to light up or sing.

“Alligators,” shouted Micheal, the oldest of the boys, as he eyed a box of fake amphibians and quickly chose two of the green rubber toys.

After settling on a camouflage sleeping bag, middle son David said the experience was a blast.

“I got to come here and pick toys,” he said. “I like toys.”

With all the flashy trinkets filling the shelves, David said his favorite find was a pair of handcuffs.

“I get to arrest people,” he said, holding his new sleeping bag over his head in excitement.

The shopping with an officer program provides a positive interaction between kids and cops by spending time together picking toys for themselves and gifts for their family.

Schools selected participating children because they performed well in school, were respectful of adults and others and were deserving of having something done for them during the holiday season.

Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139 or mengle@coxohio.com.

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