Wilmington Officers trade badges for Santa hats at annual Santa Cop event

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) — The Wilmington Police Department retired their badges for Santa hats Friday for their annual Santa Cop event. 

For more than 30 years, the Wilmington Police Department has hosted its Santa Cop event, providing Christmas joy to the children and families that need a little extra help this year. 

Officers are paired with children from the community and take them on a shopping spree for toys and clothes, to bring some holiday cheer to families who need the extra support and create connections within the community while giving back. 

The event is funded by local businesses, providing gift cards for the shopping trip. 

Chief of Police, Ryan Zuidema, says Santa Cop is very important to the department. 

“It’s an opportunity for our officers and our professional staff to come out and really engage with our community, build those relationships, and hopefully brighten Christmas up for some very deserving families,” said Zuidema. 

WPD’s social worker Melissa Moore says this is a great way to foster a positive relationship with law enforcement and the younger generation. 

“We’re always trying to find ways to work on relationships with law enforcement because we don’t want, you know, their only experience to be like on the worst day of their life, so providing this opportunity kind of gives a different for them to be able to get to know officers on a happy occasion.” 

This was officially the 31st annual Santa Cop event, and this was the largest turn out in a few years. 

It is always something the police department looks forward to every Christmas.