New Bedford Children, Police Officers to Pair Up for Holiday Shopping

NEW BEDFORD - The New Bedford Police Department is spreading holiday cheer to dozens of city children this weekend with a special shopping spree. 

The department is participating in Shop with a Cop, a program that matches police officers with disadvantaged children in the community, to take nearly 60 New Bedford children to Target in North Dartmouth Saturday morning to purchase gifts for their siblings as well as themselves.

Money for the gifts was donated by the New Bedford Police Union, Target and individual officers.

Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro said it's just another example of collaboration in the spirit of giving.

"It's a wonderful mix of the community coming together to do just a wonderful thing," said Cordeiro.

The day will begin with two buses departing from police headquarters on Rockdale Ave. traveling to Target escorted by police cruisers and motorcycles.

Following the shopping, the children and their police companions will enjoy pizza and ice cream at Buster's Sports Bar & Grill in Dartmouth, courtesy of the restaurant.

"I think sometimes we're probably going to get more out of it than the kids will," Cordeiro said. "They'll get the gift and all that but the emotion that it gets to trigger in officers is just a wonderful moment for us."