Local students participate in “Shop with a Cop” sponsored by the Italy P.D.

Image: Italy Police Officers and Stafford Elementary students are ready to do a little Christmas shopping in participation with the I.P.D. sponsored “Shop with a Cop” program. Back row: Officer Shawn Martin, Officer Daniel Pitts, Stafford Elementary Principal Miller Jason Miller, Officer Eric Tolliver and Chief Diron Hill. Middle row: Officer Tierra Mooney, Nicholas Feemster (4th grade), Austin Lowe (6th grade) and Tomi Newman (6th grade). Front row: Byron Davis (2nd grade) and his little sister Mariah Davis (1st grade). Not pictured: Animal Control Officer Shelbi Landon.

Italy Police Officers and Stafford Elementary students are ready to do a little Christmas shopping in participation with the I.P.D. sponsored “Shop with a Cop” program. Back row: Officer Shawn Martin, Officer Daniel Pitts, Stafford Elementary Principal Miller Jason Miller, Officer Eric Tolliver and Chief Diron Hill. Middle row: Officer Tierra Mooney, Nicholas Feemster (4th grade), Austin Lowe (6th grade) and Tomi Newman (6th grade). Front row: Byron Davis (2nd grade) and his little sister Mariah Davis (1st grade). Not pictured: Animal Control Officer Shelbi Landon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Officers begin planning shopping strategies with the students as the group approaches the Walmart entrance in Waxahachie.

Officers begin planning shopping strategies with the students as the group approaches the Walmart entrance in Waxahachie. (Barry Byers)

Image: Nicholas and Officer Daniel Pitts get on the same page before racing down the isles looking for gift items.

Nicholas and Officer Daniel Pitts get on the same page before racing down the isles looking for gift items. (Barry Byers)

Image: That’s the game I want! Officer Shelbi Landon, Officer Eric Tolliver and Officer Daniel Pitts assist Nicholas in the video game section. 

That’s the game I want! Officer Shelbi Landon, Officer Eric Tolliver and Officer Daniel Pitts assist Nicholas in the video game section.  (Barry Byers)

Image: All Officer Eric Tolliver wants for Christmas is a Hemi while Austin decides the money would be better spent on a bicycle. 

All Officer Eric Tolliver wants for Christmas is a Hemi while Austin decides the money would be better spent on a bicycle.  (Barry Byers)

Image: How often do you get a police escort while riding a bike around Walmart? Officer Eric Tolliver keeps pace with Austin while he tries out his new bicycle.

How often do you get a police escort while riding a bike around Walmart? Officer Eric Tolliver keeps pace with Austin while he tries out his new bicycle. (Barry Byers)

Image: Chief Diron Hill helps Tomi choose a new pair of tennis shoes.

Chief Diron Hill helps Tomi choose a new pair of tennis shoes.

Image: Officer Shawn Martin tries calling for backup as he and Byron converge on Toyland inside Walmart. Cleanup on isle 9!

Officer Shawn Martin tries calling for backup as he and Byron converge on Toyland inside Walmart. Cleanup on isle 9! (Barry Byers)

Image: Henry E. Gasaway, an assistant manager at Walmart #260 in Waxahachie, assists Officer Tierra Mooney and Stafford Elementary 1st grader Mariah Davis in picking out just the right bicycle.

Henry E. Gasaway, an assistant manager at Walmart #260 in Waxahachie, assists Officer Tierra Mooney and Stafford Elementary 1st grader Mariah Davis in picking out just the right bicycle. (Barry Byers)

Image: Mission accomplished! Mariah shows her excitement on her new bicycle she picked out for Christmas.

Mission accomplished! Mariah shows her excitement on her new bicycle she picked out for Christmas. (Barry Byers)

Image: Officer Eric Tolliver realizes this could take awhile as one full shopping cart after another makes their way to the checkout line. 

Officer Eric Tolliver realizes this could take awhile as one full shopping cart after another makes their way to the checkout line.  (Barry Byers)

Image: Stafford Elementary 6th grader Tomi Newman displays her new acoustic guitar she picked out for Christmas.

Stafford Elementary 6th grader Tomi Newman displays her new acoustic guitar she picked out for Christmas. (Barry Byers)

Image: Officer Eric Tolliver surprises Austin with one last toy item before checking out.

Officer Eric Tolliver surprises Austin with one last toy item before checking out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Mariah quickly puts her new umbrella to use in the sprinkling rain as the group begins to load up and return to Italy.

Mariah quickly puts her new umbrella to use in the sprinkling rain as the group begins to load up and return to Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Officer Eric Tolliver supervises while Chief Hill receives assistance from Byron and Mariah.

Officer Eric Tolliver supervises while Chief Hill receives assistance from Byron and Mariah. (Barry Byers)

Image: Animal Control Officer Shelbi Landon and Officer Eric Tolliver help load Austin’s gift items.

Animal Control Officer Shelbi Landon and Officer Eric Tolliver help load Austin’s gift items. (Barry Byers)

Image: All that shopping really works up an appetite. Officers and students enjoy the lunch buffet at Pizza Inn® in Italy.

All that shopping really works up an appetite. Officers and students enjoy the lunch buffet at Pizza Inn® in Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Chief Hill offers some more slices of pizza to Mariah.

Chief Hill offers some more slices of pizza to Mariah. (Barry Byers)

Image: Deonna Padilla, owner of Bling ’N Blooms flower and jewelry shop in Italy, arrives to help with the Christmas wrapping. Deonna demonstrates to Austin and Mariah her gift wrapping technique inside the City of Italy Council Chambers.

Deonna Padilla, owner of Bling ’N Blooms flower and jewelry shop in Italy, arrives to help with the Christmas wrapping. Deonna demonstrates to Austin and Mariah her gift wrapping technique inside the City of Italy Council Chambers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Officer Tolliver helps Austin put the final touches on a wrapped present while Deonna Padilla assists Byron with the wrapping of one of his gifts. 

Officer Tolliver helps Austin put the final touches on a wrapped present while Deonna Padilla assists Byron with the wrapping of one of his gifts.  (Barry Byers)

Image: Animal Control Officer Shelbi Landon shows Nicholas how not to wrap a present and then shows him a better way to wrap his presents.

Animal Control Officer Shelbi Landon shows Nicholas how not to wrap a present and then shows him a better way to wrap his presents. (Barry Byers)

Image: Officer Tierra Mooney helps Mariah write out her Christmas tag. When asked who her favorite police officer was? Mariah said, "Officer “Tooney” Mooney."

Officer Tierra Mooney helps Mariah write out her Christmas tag. When asked who her favorite police officer was? Mariah said, "Officer “Tooney” Mooney." (Barry Byers)

Image: Officer Shawn Martin lends a helping hand to Byron.

Officer Shawn Martin lends a helping hand to Byron. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Italy Police Department wishes to give a special thanks to all the donors that helped make the “Shop with a Cop” program a success. Austin, Tomi, Nicholas, Byron and Mariah enjoyed a day of fun they will long remember and are sure to have a joyous Christmas!

The Italy Police Department wishes to give a special thanks to all the donors that helped make the “Shop with a Cop” program a success. Austin, Tomi, Nicholas, Byron and Mariah enjoyed a day of fun they will long remember and are sure to have a joyous Christmas! (Barry Byers)

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