Local children Shop with a Cop
If you heard sirens throughout Idaho Falls and Ammon early Saturday morning, no, it wasn’t an emergency. It was Shop with a Cop.
“This is unlike any other experience for the officers and for the kids,” said Sgt. Bryan Lovell, with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.
Thirty kids got a chance to get a start on their Christmas shopping with some help from local law enforcement Saturday morning. It was part of the 26th annual Shop with a Cop event. It started with breakfast at the Eagles Lodge, then an escort to Target in Ammon to shop. The event is a way to bridge the gap between law enforcement and kids who may have had a negative experience with them.
“What it does is it lets them see a law enforcement officer in a different light, that they can make that connection, reduce that fear,” said Teena McBride, executive director of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center. “Being fearful that if I see a law enforcement officer, something’s going to happen, you know, and it’s going to be something negative. And it takes that away.”
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, Iona Police Department, Idaho State Police and probation and parole officers all helped the kids pick out the perfect presents. There was even a visit from Santa. Shop with a Cop is fun for both the kids and officers.
“It’s kind of a positive, turning that negative experience into a positive thing for them,” Lovell said. “They’re having a great time with these officers, going away with a happy experience to hopefully brighten their day and make life happier for them.”
The Idaho Falls Civitan Club was on hand to wrap the presents for the kids. Event organizers say today is not all about the presents. This time of year is the perfect time to get out and help the community.
“The best thing for people to do is, if you can, tap into something where you can go out into the community and give a little bit back during this season,” McBride said. “That is probably the best present you give yourself the whole year.”
Madison County also hosted Shop with a Cop this morning.
