Harlingen police bring smiles to children for Christmas season

HARLINGEN — The officers and their young friends passed the cheerleaders and their giant green Hawk greeting them with smiles and waves and handshakes.

The cheerleaders in the shiny pom poms who wore the green and gold uniforms of Harlingen High School South stood outside the entrance to Walmart as fifth graders and law enforcement officers passed by. “Harley the Hawk” in his dashing green costume waved to everybody.

Inside the Walmart store at 1801 W. Lincoln St., the kids and the officers took pictures with Santa Claus and then poured into the aisles for a morning of shopping. Each of the fifth graders from the Harlingen school district had $125 to spend.

The Harlingen Police Department’s Annual Shop With A Cop was in full swing, and officers from several law enforcement agencies had gathered to spend time with the kids while they went Christmas shopping.

The school district had selected 85 fifth graders who would benefit the most from a shopping trip with a law enforcement officer.

One of those students was Jesus Gomez, 11.

“I’m looking for some things I need, like headphones,” said Jesus.

His friend, Harlingen Police Officer Rogelio Yanez, appreciated the opportunity to help Jesus prepare for Christmas.

“I have done it every year to help out the kids,” he said.

The morning sun spread through the chilly air across the parking lot where officers of many uniforms waited to meet a child stepping down from a school bus. The sky was a flawless blue, and Christmas carols from a loudspeaker — “Here Comes Santa Claus, Here Comes Santa Claus” — heralded the arrival of a fresh Christmas season and it’s red-coated ambassador.

“This is our 10th Annual Shop With a Cop,” said Harlingen Police Chief Michael Kester.

“It’s a great chance for officers and kids to interact and get to know each other,” he said. “The kids can get what they want even though they often shop for their siblings and parents. This shows the kids are being brought up right.”

In line to help the kids were officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“I like the joy it brings to other kids,” said Kristian Bahamundi, an officer with ICE.

“It gives them the opportunity to buy things they want, and we’re helping the kids to show support local law enforcement and federal law enforcement,” he said.

Now the music from the speakers sang “Last Christmas I gave you my heart, the very next day you gave it away,” and inside the store Albert Martinez, 10, waited to see Santa Clause and then go shopping.

“I feel very very good because you are able to listen to kids’ stories,” Albert said. “I am planning to buy things for my family, Legos and other toys.”

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