Updated Dec. 7, 11:27 a.m.–
Several dozen uniformed police officers and two dozen students crowded into the Citrus Heights Walmart store on Tuesday for the 10th annual “Shop with a Cop” event, filling isles throughout the store and drawing some confused looks from shoppers who were surprised to find a heavy police presence inside the store.
The 24 students who participated ranged in age from 6 to 17, with each accompanied by two police personnel as they traversed the store on a $100 spending spree to pick out gifts for themselves or family members. Police said students were all hand-picked from local schools and were selected based on criteria that focused on character and ethics.
“It was awesome,” said Marie, a fifth-grader at Mariposa Avenue Elementary. She said her favorite part was getting a stuffed teddy bear and balloons — and also getting “to skip a little bit of school.”
An event kick-off was held inside the store at 9:30 a.m., attended by Police Chief Ron Lawrence, all five city council members, Walmart staff, and nearly 50 police personnel and volunteers.
“Seeing the smile on the faces of these kids makes it all worth it,” said Mayor Jeannie Bruins, who was seen doing some shopping of her own at the store after delivering some brief words to the group of kids and cops. Councilwoman Sue Frost also loaded up a shopping cart, telling The Sentinel she decided to shop to help support Walmart because of their contribution to the cause.
Police said a Walmart grant covered the cost of the shopping spree for each student, up to $100.
Incoming Councilman Bret Daniels shared several photos from the event on his Facebook page and said “creating positive relationships between our kids and law enforcement is the BEST thing we can ever do to reduce crime in the future.”
Walmart Manager Steve Sharp, who’s been in charge of the local store for just four weeks, said he was in tears when he heard that officers went to go pick up a student who couldn’t make it to Walmart because his mother was in line at an area shelter. “It’s phenomenal what the police department here does,” he said.
The event this year was the largest “Shop with a Cop” since the effort began in 2006, according to Sgt. Jason Baldwin. He said students picked out bikes, helmets, clothes, toys, and gift items for others — with some officers pitching in extra cash to help out if the items ended up costing over $100.
[Related: CHPD seeks donations for annual ‘Holiday Referral Program’]
Police also help sponsor an annual gift-giving program designed to help local families who have experienced a recent hardship. The annual Holiday Referral Program is currently accepting donations through Dec. 19, which can be dropped off at the Citrus Heights Police Department.
