Annual 'Shop with a Cop' event takes place in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Some underprivileged kids in San Jose won't forget this day. They got to shop for Christmas presents -- with the help of the Bay Area's finest. It was the annual "Shop with a Cop" event.

Santa came to town in San Jose and he brought a bus full of kids. Law enforcement officers from 22 different agencies in the Bay Area, including the FBI and DEA, are spending the day at Target.

The non-profit Shop with a Cop works with local law enforcement all through the year to give back to the community. Seventy students from Santee Elementary and 38 others who suffered a hardship are given a $150 gift card to check off their Christmas list.

"I'm getting my little sister a Barbie," said Julian S., Santee Elementary student.

"You have a very lucky family that they have such a generous brother?

asked ABC7's Matt Keller.

"Yeah," said Julian S.

"What are you getting yourself?" asked Keller

"A basketball," said Julian S.

"It's an amazing feeling. It's kind of hard to describe it you know. I feel very special to have this opportunity to do something special for somebody this Christmas. It's just amazing," said Santa Clara County Correctional Deputy Erika Osborne.

The students from Santee Elementary were chosen for the shopping spree because they dramatically improved their reading scores. Shop with a Cop organizers say this is a great opportunity for officers to build relationships with their community and encourage students to stay on the right path.

"You plan on asking her for a tour of her car?" asked Keller

"Yeah," said Julian S.

"Maybe you can run the sirens a bit?" asked Keller

"Yeah," said Julian S.

"Pull someone over?" asked Keller.

"Yeah," said Julian S.

"He's the future. Who knows maybe in the future he'll being doing the same thing for everyone else," said Erika Osborne

Kids are given a goodie bag and some free books. Santa Claus is also here for pictures.