More than a dozen law enforcement agencies from the coast to the county line participated in the 24th iteration of Grays Harbor’s Shop with a Cop event.
Taking 56 kids to a breakfast prepared by the Aberdeen High School’s culinary class, to a lights-and-sirens convoy to Walmart, to a Saturday morning shopping spree through the store, the event was a wonderful success, said Kacey Grove, who helped to organize it.
“I think it was an amazing time and a way to hopefully make sure some of the students in our community had an extra special holiday season,” Grove said in an interview. “This would not happen if we didn’t have the support of the schools and law enforcement community and our wonderful law enforcement sponsors.”
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Children got to ride from breakfast to the Walmart in a lights-and-sirens convoy during the Shop with a Cop event on Saturday.
The primarily grade-school children were picked by their schools and partnered up with an officer from one of the 13 agencies participating, from local departments like Hoquiam, Westport or Montesano to the Quinault Tribal Police and Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office to state organizations like the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s enforcement branch or the Washington State Patrol.
The program began 25 years ago, started by Betty Crass, a civilian employee of the sheriff’s office, Grove said, before Sgt. Shane Krohn of the Hoquiam Police Department took over running the program, before Cosmopolis took the reins. Donors helped to supply money for children to buy gifts for their family and themselves.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Children got to ride from breakfast to the Walmart in a lights-and-sirens convoy during the Shop with a Cop event on Saturday.
“We had an amazing amount of sponsors that donated,” Grove said. “The students were given a larger amount of funds just with the price increase in things.”
One child shopper, Dagger, indicated that he wasn’t particularly sure what he was going to get for his family but he was having a roaring good time figuring it out.
“The staff at our Walmart was amazing and assisted us with whatever was needed. They had parking marked off. They supplied the wrapping materials,” Grove said. “They were out front, waving at the kids when they came in.”
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Law enforcement personnel and children buddied up for the annual Shop with a Cop event on Saturday.
Another, Jacqueline, said that she had gotten a bike for herself, as well as a Barbie doll, as volunteers wrapped the gifts for transport home at Walmart. Grove said the local Walmart staff helped make it all come together, thanking them for their help. Her shopping partner, Detective Breaunna Simpson of HPD, said she always enjoys meeting the children, and getting to know them — the whole morning is a fun time.
“Absolutely. I’ve been fed, I got to play Xmas music in my car and no one judged me,” Simpson said in an interview. “I love the first introduction with the kids.”
Grove also thanked Shelbie Dixon, who organized the breakfast portion, and Adventure Photography, who took pictures of all the children with Santa so they could take the photos home with them.
Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Police and children pose for a photo during the Shop with a Cop event on Saturday morning at Aberdeen High School.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Volunteers wait to wrap presents during the annual Shop with a Cop event on Saturday.
Courtesy photo / Cosmopolis Police Department Sgt. Shane Krohn, who eventually ended up running the program, hugs Betty Crass, a civilian employee of the sheriff’s office who started the Shop with a Cop program 25 years ago.
