With the help of community donations, the annual Santa Cops program hopes to increase the number of children chosen to shop with law enforcement officers this year.

"We try to increase it every year," said Kevin Doty, assistant chief of the Fort Dodge Police Department. "My goal is to have more than we had last year. Maybe that's only going to be one more, but if it's one, that will be great. We understand the economic times. We may not be able to increase, but we'd like to be close to that."

The Santa Cops program began in 2001 with 41 children and has involved more children every year.

Youngsters in kindergarten through sixth grade are referred by elementary school counselors, Doty said. "Who better to know if there are children who could use some help?"

Children are selected for Santa Cops from public elementary schools, St. Edmond Elementary, St. Paul Lutheran and schools in outlying areas of Webster County. Since the program began, officers have gone shopping with 547 children.

The Santa Cops program involves the Fort Dodge Police Association, the Webster County Sheriff's Department, Iowa State Patrol, the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, the Sheriff's Department Reserves and the Police Department Reserves.

Officers participate on their days off. They are in uniform when shopping with the children.

"Children are getting to have one-on-one contact with an officer in a totally different environment than they would on the street," Doty said.

In a letter sent out by Mike Buske for the Fort Dodge Police Association, he writes, "We are asking again for your help to fund this successful and positive program, which cannot happen without the support of the communities that we serve."

Each year the Santa Cops program seeks "names of children whose families are going through hard times, and without your help, will not have the happy and joyous Christmas season that we all want," he wrote.

Youngsters can be chosen for the Santa Cops program just once. If there are several children in the family who meet the age requirements, all will be chosen in the same year, Doty said, so that everybody in the family is getting an opportunity.

Each child is given $100 to spend on themselves or for others, he said. Many know what they want to buy - from boots and coats to gifts for family members.

"It's very heart-warming to see what some of the children decide to spend the money on," Doty said. "Some come with a list. If they do that, that's great. If they spend it for something they need or for toys, that's perfectly all right. Ultimately, it's money for the kids."

Officers sign up to participate in Santa Cops on either Dec. 8 or 9. Everyone meets in the snack area at Target, and pairs of officers and children spread out across the store to go shopping.

"Target has always been very accommodating," Doty said. "They open their arms to us. It's a community program. It definitely is."

Contact Sandy Mickelson at (515) 573-2141 or smickelson@messengernews.net