- April 17, 2024
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FCSO Cmdr. Philip Reynolds watches as Jeffrey Foust, 11, thinks about what toy to pick next. Photo by Paige Wilson
Eric Meade, of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, pushes the cart as Tavion Ash rides on the front. Photo by Paige Wilson
Aliyah Summerlot and FCSO deputy Omar Ocampo walk up to the store. Photo by Paige Wilson
Deputies and children get together for a group photo. Photo by Paige Wilson
Jack McGrath, 5, plays in a toy house, while Sheriff Rick Staly and his wife Debbie Staly shop with him. Photo by Paige Wilson
Matt Hirschi, of the Bunnell Police Department, and Bri Hope get ready to shop. Photo by Paige Wilson
FCSO deputy Chris Alecrim reaches to get the next toy Kiya Maria Watson picked out. Photo by Paige Wilson
Chase and Megan Henson wave as the units roll up to Target. Photo by Paige Wilson
FCSO Chief Steve Brandt pushes the cart as Alias Lorick rides along. Photo by Paige Wilson
Julian Jones waves to the officers outside Target. Photo by Paige Wilson
FCSO Cmdr. Jeff Stuart pushed the cart as Leightona Kerr picks out her next gift. Photo by Paige Wilson
Santa Claus rides in a city of Palm Coast fire engine. Photo by Paige Wilson
FCSO deputy John Collins and Jalia Kidd enjoy shopping together. Photo by Paige Wilson
Bunnell resident Alexis DePasquale meets McGruff the crime dog. Photo by Paige Wilson
Tavion Ash gets ready to pick his next toy with Eric Meade, of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Photo by Paige Wilson
FCSO Cmdr. Philip Reynolds watches as Jeffrey Foust, 11, shows his excitement for the shopping trip. Photo by Paige Wilson
The sound of sirens blaring engulfed the parking lot of Super Target in Palm Coast as 150 patrol cars rolled up with 120 children who were eager to shop for Christmas goodies.
The 11th-annual Christmas with a Deputy event featured officers from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission who came together to make Christmas special the night of Friday, Dec. 7.
Eleven year-old Jeffrey Foust was among the children who showed pure joy while picking out gifts in the store with a $150 gift card, as FCSO Cmdr. Philip Reynolds pushed around his cart of toys. But Jeffrey was ready with his own surprise for the officers.
Jeffrey recently moved to Flagler Beach with his mother, Ginny, from Tennessee where his father was a Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputy until his death on Dec. 7, 2011, a FCSO news release stated. As a tribute to his father, Jeffrey wanted to save all of his allowance throughout the year in order to present Christmas gifts to the FCSO. He asked his mother to take him to purchase gift cards so that he could give them to the local deputies during the event.
In the spirit of giving, Jeffrey bought 50 $10 gift cards for deputies and four $25 gift cards for the supervisors, who he referred to as the “Big Dogs” at FCSO.
"I was speechless," Reynolds said. "It was an honor to be with him that evening — not only for his personal sacrifice he made regarding his allowance, but also getting to see his great support for law enforcement."
Jeffrey said he wants to be a SWAT leader when he grows up.
For the first time, a second Christmas with a Deputy event will take place soon. Thirty additional children will shop at Wal-Mart in Palm Coast on Dec. 14, courtesy of a donation from Wal-Mart.
"It starts to feel like Christmas once we have this," said FCSO public information officer Shannon Martin. "The kids are really excited and you can see the look on their faces."
Children were nominated by Flagler Schools teachers to their school resource deputies to participate in the annual event, which was founded by retired FCSO Sgt. Larry Jones.
"It's such a great community event," Martin said. "It fosters relationships with the children, with the deputies."
