NATCHEZ &045; Treona Thomas stepped from the dressing room wearing a toothy grin and a new church dress.

Stopping in front of each person she could find, she showed off the black velvet and shimmery blue creation, bursting with pride.

Thomas was one of 40 children taken on a shopping spree Saturday morning by members of the Fraternal Order of Police for their annual Santa Cop visit.

&uot;We’ve been doing this for 11 years,&uot; said Lt. Gail Frisby. &uot;I love it.&uot;

After collecting money from their own fund-raising and the community, the officers collected the children on Saturday morning for a breakfast courtesy of McDonald’s. Then it was off to Wal-Mart for clothes and toy shopping.

&uot;We buy them regular clothes and underwear, and coats if they need them,&uot; Frisby said. &uot;And a toy.&uot;

For some children, it was the toy that was most important. Eight-year-old Cleveland Smith didn’t have to make it to the toy department to find what he wanted &045; a football.

&uot;Bringing this little guy has been a real pleasure,&uot; said the Rev. James Calhoun. &uot;It’s a real thrill for me because March will be my second year to be a police chaplain.&uot;

&uot;I’d go with this one,&uot; Calhoun told Cleveland as the boy gripped footballs for the right fit.

&uot;I’d go with this one, too,&uot; said his young charge, a polite boy who almost always punctuates his comments with &uot;sir.&uot;

By mid-morning the officers &045; many in their blue uniforms &045; were fanned out across the store helping try on shoes, pick out winter coats and socks and find just the right toy.

&uot;We feel like it really makes a difference,&uot; said police Chief Mike Mullins. &uot;Maybe it will have a lasting effect.&uot;

Mullins shopped with 6-year-old Trey Thomas, Treona’s older brother. The children lost their mother this month, and her live-in boyfriend has been charged with her murder.

Mullins’ wife, Lauren, shopped with Treona, who along with her new clothes clutched a chubby-cheeked baby doll who was her mirror image. Lauren Mullins was also shopping for Treona and Trey’s seven-month-old brother.

The police officers find names of children from the Department of Human Services, the Salvation Army and the Natchez-Adams School District.

In addition to the clothes, shoes and toys, the children go home with enough food for a Christmas dinner for their families, Chief Mullins said. After the shopping spree, Natchez Regional Medical Center provided the children with lunch.