Teams of law enforcement officers and kids recently fanned out across Bucks County retailers in the annual Shop with a Cop outreach. Christopher Dornblaser covered the community-building event for the Bucks County Courier Times.

The shoppers and their chaperones centered in Plumstead and Newtown Townships, where policemen and -women from 17 county departments shepherded nearly 300 kids through store aisles.

Most of the purchasers collected gifts for themselves. But some youngsters, despite being encouraged otherwise, included presents for others at home.

Plumstead Chief David Mettin, observing the selflessness, said, “That’s what this is all about.”

Cpl. Paul Deppi, head of the Newtown outing, commented that the uniformed guides seemed to enjoy the spree as much as the pint-sized consumers.

“We don’t know who had the bigger smiles, the kids or the officers,” he said.

No word on whether any of the shoppers — large or small — went home with Paw Patrol merch.

More on the local editions of the 2021 Shop with a Cop program is at the Bucks County Courier Times.