I've been doing Cops for Kids for 17
years. This is my 17th one. Um, almost
as long as it's been going on. And
hanging out with these kids that often
come from the same troubled
neighborhoods where we go make arrest.
And it's nice to put on this uniform and
do something where you know chances are
you're not going to be fighting with
somebody, not be making an arrest, not
be seen somebody at the worst. So that's
what I like about it. It's just uh it's
a good chance
give back to the community in a way
that's not typical of a police officer.
I still have one kid that calls me every
few months and this kind of reminds me
today I probably need to give him a call
and see how he's doing.
[Music]
So, Chief Alan Banks, Albuquerque Police
Department. We're here at our 2013 Cops
for Kids. This is a great time for us,
our Cops for Kids program. uh have we
get the chance to take some of our
underprivileged kids in our community
and in our BIA uh areas and spend the
day with them. So the activities planned
for today is the officers who are
partnered up with these children. They
go to the the child's house and pick
that child up get an opportunity to meet
that family. The child gets in the car
and the officer drives uh to a
restaurant which is sponsored today uh
which is First Cafeteria. Welcome to
First Fresh Buffet. My name is Rudy
Odosko. I'm the general manager at the
Wyoming location. We are honored and
excited to to participate in cost for
kids this year. We enjoy seeing a smile
on the kids' face when they come in to
furs and feeding them a good delicious
nutritional meal. We have approximately
about 200 total people, 100 officers and
100 kids.
And then from there we will proceed in
procession over to Walmart. Walmart has
been a great partner of this program for
a very long time and we appreciate their
support. Walmart will have the
opportunity for Santa Claus to come in
and greet the kids and and take photos
with these with these kids.
[Music]
My name is Brian Moore. I'm the store
manager here at the academy store. This
is Karen. This is Linda. We've been
doing Cops for Kids for the last 19
years. Uh it's a great community
involvement, great community resource.
Uh it's something that we try to do to
help the underprivileged. We have the
officers bring the kids into the store.
they get a $100 gift card in which they
get to spend within the store. And then
we also as a store uh and as a as a
company, we donate food for the children
so that way that they have a holiday
meal this year. We greatly appreciate
the kids coming to the store and all the
officers that came out on their day to
help support uh such a tremendous uh
effort for for the community.
[Music]
After Walmart, we then have a procession
to it. And at it, you get an opportunity
to eat with the kids again and then play
around video games, uh different rides,
etc. So, a fantastic day for the kids.
Uh get to play with the lights and
sirens of the police cars. Um and be a
police officer, little little police
officer for the day. So, we're giving
them the opportunity to have a friend in
law enforcement so that they're
comfortable with law enforcement when
they need
[Music]
us. So, this is my first Cops for Kids,
and my experience today was really,
really amazing. Um, the beginning of the
day, we got a folder with the child's
name in it. Um, my child's name was
Tantony and just interacting with her
and getting to see the excitement in her
face was just a really good feeling and
super awesome that she likes being in my
police car and hanging out with me.
[Music]
[Applause]