Great Chance to Support 'Shop with a Cop'

Attention Target shoppers: If you see a bunch of cops chasing kids around the Vintage Oaks department store on the morning of Dec. 8, don't be alarmed. It's for a good cause.

The Novato Police Department recently was awarded a $750 community grant from Target to launch the new Shop with a Cop program, but more donations are being sought.

Novato PD worked with the Novato Youth Center and the Novato Human Needs Center to identify families in need with children ages 5-13, and 40 kids were chosen. The children will be given a Target gift card to go on a shopping spree along with a police officer in town to buy a gift for themselves and/or a parent.

The shopping spree is set for 8-10 a.m. Dec. 8.

Community outreach has been a mantra within Novato PD, and the Shop with a Cop event will go a long way toward establishing some tinsel-tinged rapport with the younger crowd.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our officers to interact with our youth," Novato Police Chief Berg said in a release. "It will strengthen our relationships and help bring joy to their holiday season. I am so grateful to our community partners in working with us on this program.”

Donations have already come from Hennessy Advisors, the Novato Police Managers Association, the Novato Police Officers Association and individual community members. Although the participant list is maxed out at 40 for this first-time event, additional donations can be made via Lt. Jennifer Welch. Contact her at jwelch@novato.org or 897-4361.

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