ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica— Twenty children from several St Elizabeth communities were on Saturday gifted toys and other necessities by police in the parish as part of the division’s ‘Shop with a cop’ initiative for Christmas.

Head of the St Elizabeth police acting Superintendent Coleridge Minto said the children are from over 13 communities including Brompton, Speculation, Leeds and Siloah.

“Today’s initiative is the first in the St Elizabeth police division. I want to give credit to SSP Christopher Phillips of the St Catherine South police division, it was his idea initiated a year ago. We saw it and thought it was a good initiative and so we have used the concept and augmented it somewhat,” he explained.

“It is very encouraging to see the number of children who have come out along with their parents [and] their baskets are filled,” said Minto, adding that members of the police force donated towards the initiative.

“Many police officers across the 11 police stations contributed along with some other persons and we are treating outreach children today with gifts, ” he said, also expressing gratitude to the proprietors of Top Price in Santa Cruz for partnering with the police.

Eleven-year-old Sabrina Campbell expressed thanks to the police on behalf of the children.

“A very big Merry Christmas to you all and thank you to the police officers here. I took up toys, mouthwash and other items,” she said.

— Kasey Williams