The West Milwaukee Shop with a Cop pairs officers with kids around the Milwaukee area.
The children get to buy Christmas presents for themselves thanks to community donations. Some children are in need, others have had previous experience with police and they are hoping to change that to a positive memory.
West Milwaukee Officer Steffen Pawlak and Michelle, 9, headed in the Target with quite a list to tackle.
"I want to do something for my family too," said Michelle to Pawlak.
Pawlak said that is pretty typical. The children are allowed to pick out whatever they want, but they usually think of others in their family. Michelle wanted to get her dad a winter coat, plus gifts for her siblings.
Pawlak was joined by a dozen other departments from places like Bulter, Hales Corner, even a Department of Justice investigator and her K9 partner. They all came together to help Milwaukee-area kids find the perfect gifts. Michelle said it was not her first time meeting the police.
"We've had a couple of problems at our house," said Michell.
She said the police are always nice to her. But Police Chief Dennis Nasci said not all children have good memories of police.
"It's not always been a good positive contact. Sometimes it's been because there's been a death in the family or something of that nature and this is just a way we can let them know we haven't forgotten about them," said Chief Dennis Nasci, West Milwaukee Police Department.
And also make a special holiday memory.
