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Twenty children were paired with members of the Suffolk Police Department and the Suffolk Sheriff’s Department on Saturday morning for this year’s annual Fraternal Order of Police Cops and Kids event.

Every year, the Sheriff and Police Departments recommend families they think could benefit from the event. They also receive insight from the school system.

Originally there was a group of 10 kids, but a last minute donation doubled the allotted funds, allowing for 10 more kids to be included, Allan Iversen, FOP Suffolk Lodge 41 secretary-treasurer said.

“The main reason why we do it is to let the kids know that law enforcement isn’t just there in their worst times,” Iversen said. “We’re there to help them throughout the year, but this is an event where they get to go with an officer, mostly in uniform, and they get to see the officer as a totally different person other than just arresting people.”

Each child was allotted $100 to $125 to spend on whatever they chose. The only things not allowed are anything that could incite violence, like Nerf Guns or swords. Iversen highlighted that this is an opportunity for the kids to choose things they want, with or without the guidance of a parent.

Sheriff David Miles has been participating in the Cops and Kids event every year since he started working with the Sheriff’s Department in 2015. 

Miles said he enjoys participating because it makes him feel like a kid again.

“Seeing the excitement in the children’s eyes as they are going through looking at the toys and trying to pick out their favorite just reminds me of my own childhood, so I get to relive it just for a few moments at a time,” he said.

For Officer Ken Smith, this was his first year shopping, and he shared a similar sentiment. He said it reminded him of when he used to take his daughters shopping when they were still kids, and definitely plans on participating again.

As the event is completely funded by the FOP, Iversen said the Cops and Kids budget comes from year-long fundraising, membership dues, and company donations. He said this year a lot of the money was donated in memory of late former Police Chief Gilbert “Spud” Jackson.  

“In addition to making sure that we can help a child have a happy Christmas morning, additionally, it’s an opportunity for us in law enforcement to give back and show that we are more than what others say that we are,” Miles said. “We have a heart, we have families, we have loved ones, and we care about the children having a good Christmas.”