by Hanna Singh
Some may have wondered if a crime was committed at the Ruston Walmart Thursday night, with dozens of officers gathered in the front of the store. However, the abundance of police men and women was due to a much more festive event.
The Lincoln Parish Sherrif’s Office and multiple other law enforcement agencies brought Christmas cheer to local children with their annual “Shop with a Cop” event this December. In partnership with Walmart Supercenter, the departments provided 50 children with a shopping spree to pick out gifts before Christmas.
Participating in the event included officers from the Ruston Police Department, Choudrant Police Department, Dubach Police Department, Louisiana Tech University Police Department and the Grambling State University Police Department. All the officers gladly took time outside of their shifts to shop with the children for the night.
Each child was paired up with an officer to roam the store, picking out up to $100 worth of toys, clothes or treats to fill their cart. While the children lit up with excitement to pick out their gifts, the officers soaked in all the joy of helping the tiny shoppers have a brighter Christmas. LPSO Chief Deputy, Landon Hunt, expressed the fun the officers found in shopping with the children.
“Shop with a cop is an event that is very special to our hearts. It is a program that helps families in need, while also building a trust and bond between our law enforcement officers and the youth in our community,” Hunt said. “They will each have a hundred dollars to spend, but the smiles on their faces are priceless. I believe our deputies receive more joy than the children.”
After many years of doing the “Shop with a Cop” event, the program has grown over the years. Walmart and the participating law enforcement agencies have raised money leading up to the event through donations and grant money from the Walmart Corporation. Walmart Community Project Coordinator, Leah Frazier, highlighted the importance of giving back during the season of giving.
“Shop with a cop is a way for Walmart to give back in our community. This program was created over 15 years ago as a way to bring school age children and officers together in a positive way,” Frazier said. “The children have a wonderful time shopping with the officers for Christmas items. Our local Walmart loves being a part of this program. When we see the smiles on the children’s and the parents’ faces, it’s great to know we helped spread Christmas cheer in our community.”
Besides providing a large group of children with an opportunity to pick out presents they might not otherwise have, the “Shop with a Cop” event also offers a deeper connection to the community. While many families might not have any connection to any law enforcement officers, the event provides community members the chance to see officers serving others outside of their day-to-day duties. LPSO Deputy and Head of the Community Services Division, Iris Winston shared how the event the officers and those involved.
“I think it’s really good for the kids, letting them know we care about them. We are just trying to bridge the gap with the community and law enforcement,” Winston said. “We want every kid to enjoy the holidays, so this is just one way we can give back to the community and the children. It brings joy to the officers, and they love seeing the faces of the children light up.”
By the end of the night, every child had left the store with a full cart and a full heart. The officers, families and employees involved all enjoyed getting a little extra Christmas cheer this year.
