For more than a decade, the Muncie Police Department has given underprivileged children something to smile about during the holiday season by offering them the opportunity to shop for presents they might not otherwise receive.
This year, the charitable efforts of "Muncie's finest" during Shop with a Cop were overshadowed by the appearance of a celebrity who acts as if his heart is as big as his hair-do.
Although the police claim Erik Estrada's unannounced appearance helped draw in more officers willing to escort children through the aisles of Muncie's Target, the question remains whether the former "Armed & Famous" celebrity cop was acting in the best interests of Muncie or his own reputation.
Seven-year-old Keegan Dean said he wanted to grow up to be a police officer just like Estrada, which shows that the B celebrity's appearance did affect those he was expected to help. That child, however, was speaking about someone who spent his time in Muncie greasing palms and signing autographs for a throng of fans rather than helping underprivileged children select Christmas presents.
It's possible Estrada had dire hopes of helping a child find the Christmas gift of his dreams, but when he only made it as far into the store as the cash registers, it's hard to think he had a burning passion to help the needy.
Countless times during the filming of "Armed & Famous," Estrada cited his acting experience as a legitimate form of police training, which indicates a blurring of television and reality.
If Estrada is reliving the hot-headed exploits of "Ponch" in real life, he needs to stop and think about Keegan Dean and all the other children who look up to him as a full-fledged member of the police force. Muncie has already seen what happens when police officers think quickly and irrationally -ยก- they can end up putting a squad car in a light pole or worse. That's not somebody parents would want their children to idolize.
Estrada has indicated he wants to become a U.S. marshal, and he is concerned about protecting children from cyber predators - both admirable tasks. He needs to remember, however, that actions speak louder than words.
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