Shopping With Cops and Kids (12.13.13)

Last night I found myself at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls, S.D., with Argus Leader reporter Peter Harriman for an event that I had the pleasure of covering during my time at the Winona Daily News in Winona, Minn. His story can be read here. It's a pretty good read if you've got the chance.

The title was slightly different, but the premise was the same.

Children were paired with a police officer to do holiday shopping at Target in an attempt to provide a positive interaction between law enforcement and young children.

I enjoy these types of positive assignments. I mean, how can children shopping for toys and gifts for family members with cops carrying guns not bring a smile to your face?

More photos can be seen online at the Argus Leader website.

Thanks for looking.

Doug Simmons, a resource officer with the Sioux Falls Police Department, greets children and their parents as they get off a bus before the Shopping With Kids and Cops event at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Kyle Carpenter, 8, shops with officer Steve Lowry, with the Tea Police Department, during the Shopping With Kids and Cops event at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Sara Dillon, 4, checks the price of an item while shopping with officer Adam Buiter, with the Sioux Falls Police Department, and Michelle Boyd, chief deputy with the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office, during the Shopping With Kids and Cops event at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Mato Denoyer, 6, shops with officer Curt Daughters, with the Sioux Falls Police Department, during the Shopping With Kids and Cops event at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Mato Denoyer, 6, and officer Curt Daughters, with the Sioux Falls Police Department, talk about a Spiderman toy during the Shopping With Kids and Cops event at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Sean Dillon, 6, shops with officer Tim Kacena, with the Sioux Falls Police Department, during the Shopping With Kids and Cops event at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Sean Dillon, 6, checks out after shopping with officer Tim Kacena, with the Sioux Falls Police Department, during the Shopping With Kids and Cops event at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Jenna Boscardin, an executive team leader of assets protection at Target, checks out items for Sean Dillon, 6, during the Shopping With Kids and Cops event at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Mato Denoyer, 6, waits in line with a bike that he picked out while shopping with officer Curt Daughters, with the Sioux Falls Police Department, during the Shopping With Kids and Cops event at the Target store on Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

On Assignment

Last Saturday I covered, what I thought, was a pretty interesting assignment for the Winona Daily News. Four Goodview police officers, one of which was the chief of police, took five children from Goodview Elementary School to Target in Winona, Minn., for some holiday shopping for family members.

It looked like the police officers and the kids were having a good time shopping together. You can read the story and see some more photos here.  Here a few of my favorites from the assignment. 

All images ©Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News