Photo gallery: Law enforcement help bring Christmas to Flagler County's less-fortunate children with retired Sergeant Larry Jones's Christmas with a Deputy

Over 100 kids were picked up and escorted to Super Target to shop for Christmas.

By Jeff Dawsey
| 7:30 p.m. December 16, 2016

Officer Brian Capobianco carried Daniel Swint on his shoulders and into Target for a Christmas shopping spree.

Christmas with a Deputy provided a Christmas shopping spree to 114 kids this year.

Flagler Beach Chief Matthew Doughney and April Rodriguez show Santa that April wanted a WWE championship belt for Christmas.

April found her WWE championship title belt.

C.J. Knotts, accompanied by Lieutenant Stacey Baer, floats around Target on the front of the cart.

Sheriff Jim Manfre spent some time little Liam De Angel, along with his father, German.

Dozens of patrol vehicles flooded Target' s parking lot with noisy sirens and Christmas cheers.

Deputy Crista Rainey lets Kallani Byrd cruise in a shopping cart.

Corporal Jon Reckenwald was lit up with the Christmas spirit, donning a necklace of Christmas lights.

Sheriff-elect Rick Staly and his wife, Debbie, travel through Target with Darius Ferreiro.

Officer Rosanna Vinci and Ashtyn Anderson

Palm Coast Observer
News

Christmas often missed Retired Flagler County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Larry Jones in his childhood years. Not wanting the county's underprivileged children to experience the same Christmas he endured, Jones initiated his Christmas with a Deputy program, which was held on Friday, Dec. 16, at Super Target.

"When I first started the program, it was only 11 kids; now we're at 114," Jones said. "To keep the kids out of the system, I'd rather give them something than they go and steal anything. The best we can do is try to make sure every kid has a gift on Christmas."

The officers — from Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Highway Patrol — picked up the kids from their houses and took them to Target. Each kid was given a $150 gift card to purchase gifts. Before they entered the store, they all rode in an extended convoy in front of Target, yelling Merry Christmas on the patrol cars' intercom systems as the lights flashed and sirens sounded.

"It brings tears to my eyes every year to see an event like this," Jones added. "I wish there was something like this, when I was a kid. Thanks to God."