Shop with a Cop in Marietta brings Christmas joy
MARIETTA, OH (WTAP) - At the Walmart in Marietta, the Marietta Police Department gave them a chance to shop with kids from Marietta as part of this annual Shop with a Cop program right before Christmas.
Kids had a limit of $250 to spend on whatever they wanted. This ranged from toys, clothing, and other Christmas decorations.
Errol Kramer, a sergeant with the Marietta Police Department, said that the department tries to pick out different kids every year.
“We go through the school system, referrals by teachers, and some parents reach out to us,” Kramer said. “Our school resource officer gets involved and helps go through the selection process. Then, we set up a brief application process to try and get different children every year.”
Aaron Nedeff, a captain for the Marietta Police Department, added that the process is quite simple, and it’s also a group effort for the officers.
“It’s just the kind of thing that we get together with the families here,” Nedeff said. “Our families come and do this. We take them around the store and get them things they need, but also things they want.”
Kramer added that this gives a chance for officers to be more personable to the kids.
“A lot of it for the children is to engage with us.,” Kramer added. “It’s not a law enforcement or criminal-type way. They get to be out here doing the shopping with us, pick out toys, and just talk and get to know the officers by not just seeing us in an enforcement capacity.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office also participated in it’s own Shop with a Cop program earlier that morning.
Sergeant Tyson Estes adds that this all wouldn’t be possible without help from the community in Marietta.
“On behalf of the police department and the FOP, we want to thank everybody who’s helped donate throughout the year,” Estes said. “We appreciate all the help that’s been given. We’re out here helping families and we want to try to do the best we can.”
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