CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5) — Officers from the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) took a group of student athletes on a shopping spree Tuesday morning.

It is part of a program that seeks to foster healthy relationships between local youth and law enforcement.

At 10 a.m., officers were paired up with an officer to drive them to the Dick’s Sporting Goods at 390 E H Street in Chula Vista. The students also received a $150 gift card to the athletics retailer.

When they arrived, they received breakfast from the Dick’s Sporting Goods staff followed by time to play games — cornhole, badminton and spike ball — with the officer they were partnered with.

“You know, it’s kind of what’s behind the badge? What’s behind the uniform? There’s a lot of heart that’s here and this is one of those opportunities where we get to interact with community members and way that sometimes we don’t get to right because we got to get somewhere,” said Sgt. Anthony Molina, explaining why the program was important.

“We have business to do and we’re somewhere,” he continued. “This is a different kind of opportunity where it lets us connect with people.”

Bonita High School student Syreese Coleman, who was at Tuesday’s event, told FOX 5 he thinks these officers are “cool.”

For the officers turned personal shoppers, they said it was a rewarding experience, allowing them to feel like they are giving back to the community.