He took up most of it with one item — a Monster Jam Monster Truck.

Tate was shopping with Trooper Paul Gardner, of the Iowa State Patrol, for the annual Santa Cops program.

The Santa Cops program pairs children from low-income families with law enforcement officers for a Christmas shopping spree.

“He knew exactly where to go,” Gardner said. “He wanted a big car, so we got him a big car.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Matt Meyer, an officer with the Fort Dodge Police Department, left, helps James Tomlinson, 10, find sketchbooks for a relative during the Santa Cops program Tuesday night at Target.

Nicholas Dunbar, Dayton police chief, seemed to like the choice. He was shopping with another child for the program when he spotted the truck.

“You can run over your sister’s toys with that,” Dunbar said.

As Gardner turned the cart around to continue the experience, he momentarily clashed his cart with a Fort Dodge police officer’s cart.

“Get out of here,” Gardner said jokingly.

Gardner enjoys the Santa Cops program.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Trooper Paul Gardner, of the Iowa State Patrol, poses with Leon Tate, 6, during the Santa Cops program at Target on Tuesday night.

“It’s been good,” Gardner said. “It’s always a lot of fun. It’s neat to shop with kids and be a blessing so they can have a good Christmas.”

He added, “It’s nice to help them shop and see them happy.”

Meanwhile, James Tomlinson, 10, was shopping with Matt Meyer, an officer with the Fort Dodge Police Department.

He was picking out presents for his mother, brother and two cousins.

Tomlinson found the perfect gift for his brother — a sketchbook.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Fort Dodge Police Chief Roger Porter has a look at the price tag on a toy at Target Tuesday night. The child he went shopping with for Santa Cops patiently waits as she takes a sip of her drink.

“He likes to draw and all his sketchbooks are filled,” Tomlinson said.

It was a little harder to find something for mom.

“Does your mom drink coffee?” Meyer asked. “We’ll find her a nice mug.”

Meyer has participated in the Santa Cops program for about three years. He said it’s an opportunity for others to see a different side of police officers.

“Getting kids to see us in a positive light,” Meyer said. “Bring the human element to the badge.”

-Messenger photo by April Naeve
Dayton Police Chief Nicholas Dunbar poses with a child for the Santa Cops program at Target.

Each child typically gets $100 to spend.

Some years, it’s just one item. Other years it’s a dozen.

Fort Dodge Police Chief Roger Porter has been part of the Santa Cops program since it started.

“One year I had one kid who knew exactly what he wanted,” Porter said. “It was $99.99. We walked in and walked right back up front.”

Porter likes seeing the kids happy.

“The biggest thing is getting involved with the kids and get them to see us in a positive light, especially in today’s world,” Porter said.

Trooper Nick Adams, of the Iowa State Patrol, said the program is meaningful.

“I worked in the foster care system and it’s big for kids that normally don’t get a lot,” he said.

April Naeve, a junior at Fort Dodge Senior High, contributed to this story. Naeve is job shadowing at The Messenger for a class project.