By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
There is one holiday event that the officers at the Wyoming Department of Public Safety look forward to — Shop With a Cop — and the officers were not about to let COVID prevent it from happening.
Traditionally, children are partnered with a police officer or firefighter from the department and shop for things that are on their Christmas list. But the recent COVID-19 pandemic put a kink in those plans due to restrictions large gatherings.
So instead, the officers from the department’s community service unit, with lists in hand, headed to the Meijer on Clyde Park Avenue and went shopping for the children.
“We have done this for a numbers of years,” said Connie Searl. “They are a great part of our community and they come in and shop for all the different kids to make sure they too have a great Christmas.”
Officers connected with students over the phone and through email to get their wish lists. With a $3,000 donation from Clyde Park Meijer and $2,500 from the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, the officers spent several hours shopping for gifts for the children and their families. Lt. Joe Steffes, part of the community service unit, said the department helped about 40 families this year.
There was a wrapping party at the station with about every officer pitching in to help. Officers then delivered the gifts to the children and their families.
Steffes said the officers are thrilled at the opportunity to make the holidays a little brighter for some of the community’s families.
“It’s a great opportunity for kids to connect with police in a fun and exciting way,” Koster said. “Their time is spent shopping, talking and getting to know each other. One of the really cool things that we see every year is that most children want to spend their money on gifts for their family members. I just love that.”
