As dozens of Muncie police officers walked children through the aisles of Target, the pen of the most famous member of the force was busy signing autographs for fans.
Erik Estrada, former star of "CHiPs" and "Armed & Famous," returned to Muncie last week to shadow Muncie police officers and participate in Shop with a Cop on Saturday.
Estrada had so many people surrounding him when he entered the store, by the time he made it as far as the cash registers, the event was done.
"The people of Muncie have just been sweet to me," Estrada said. "They really like me. I like it here, or else I wouldn't be here."
Capt. Chuck Hensley of the Muncie Police Department said officers were given $100 to take children shopping and buy them gifts. The department spent more than $8,700 on gifts, Hensley said.
Estrada attracted more police officers to work the event than previous years, Hensley said. About 80 police officers worked the event, he said.
"We usually have less cops than kids," he said. "With Erik here, we've been able to pull in EMT, Ball State security, criminal justice and just all kinds of police."
Seven-year-old Keegan Dean said he was excited to meet Estrada.
"He kind of looks like me," Dean said. "I want to be a cop just like him."
Estrada said he recently renewed his position on the Muncie Police Department's reserve shift, and he plans to return every year.
"I will always come back for this, that's a given," he said. "If I get caught in Europe for a year, I will still always come back to this, but I'm coming back multiple times to put in my hours as a reserve [officer]. I like working the graveyard [shift] anyway."
Estrada said he is also trying to become a deputy sheriff in Lynchburg, Va. and a U.S. marshal.
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