This year the 911 Toy Express tried something new and it was a great success!

Shop with a Cop is a national program that pairs children with police officers to help families have a better holiday season.

This program allows children to view police officers in a different atmosphere to promote positive relationships. Young kids are selected each year during the end-of-the-year holiday season to shop with a cop. Each child is given an amount of money to spend and officers escort them around the store to assist in selecting gifts.

Tonight Walmart in Bradford, PA was the warmest place in McKean County. Santa greeted each child with a Ho! Ho! Ho!

The event was hosted by the City of Bradford Police Department with event organizer School Resource Officer Shelby Fuqua.

Area fire agencies and law enforcement agencies, including the Pennsylvania State Police, Bradford City Fire Department, Bradford Township Police Department, Foster Township Police Department, McKean County Sheriff’s Department, Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department, UPB Campus Police and sponsors all participated to make Shop with a Cop a wonderful event! Many Thanks to All and a special thank you to the kind Walmart Staff who tied up the evening wrapping all the gifts! Of course the biggest thank you to Santa Claus himself! Merry Christmas to All!