(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Isabella Fluharty, 5, holds the puppy toy she picked out with help from Tyler County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Mary Bordenkircher during the department’s Shop With A Cop event at the Moundsville Walmart on Dec. 7, just in time for Christmas. Isabella is the daughter of Kaitlyn Owens and Timothy Fluharty of Davenport.

Five-year-old Isabella Fluharty slowly made her way down the aisles of the Moundsville Walmart, scoping out what she might like to put in her shopping cart.

She received some encouragement from her personal shopper for the day – Tyler County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Mary Bordenkircher.

“You can pick out whatever you want,” Bordenkircher said to the girl.

Isabella spotted a Hello Kitty item and with glee tossed it into the basket. As the duo reached the main toy department, Isabella spotted a pickleball board game she planned to play with her family. Then she found her first big toy, a Little Live Pets puppy, featuring 60 sounds and reactions and its own carrier. After that the girl was off to the races and began picking toys with ease.

Isabella was among the 41 students from Tyler County Schools who got to go shopping with members of the department during its annual Shop With A Cop event. She is the daughter of Kaitlyn Owens and Timothy Fluharty of Davenport.

The department raised funds via donations from businesses and individuals to be used for the students to pickout Christmas presents. Each student was allotted money – $300 for elementary and $500 for middle schoolers – to spend during the Dec. 7 shopping trip.

Tyler County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Tammy Satterfield, who organizes the event, said after the shopping event the toys are collected and then wrapped at the sheriff’s department. The toys are then distributed back to the children during a Christmas party just for them. Santa Claus will make an appearance as well.

The children can choose to open the packages during the party or take them home and place them under their trees to open on Christmas morning.

“We do this program for many reasons,” Satterfield said. “We help people who financially can’t provide Christmas for their kids. There are kids in the county we want to give the opportunity to see the good side of police officers. Mostly they see the bad side of us if we show up at their house. So we want to show them we’re good people, we do good things and kids are our top priority. Then there are kids who just do good in the county or they do something phenomenal and we include them on our list.”

Tyler County Sheriff Dean Pratt said he enjoys the event each year.

“It’s great. Anything we can do for the children; it’s a special time of year for kids and we like to be a part of it,” he said.

Sistersville Police Chief Rob Haught was also on hand to help Sistersville Elementary School students.