School Kids Shop With Cops

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The members of seven area law enforcement agencies escorted a large group of school kids on a holiday shopping spree at the Mesquite Walmart on Wednesday, Dec. 13. It was the annual Shop-with-a-Cop event which is organized by the agencies to both bring holiday cheer, but also build a relationship with local kids.

Each of the kids, selected by counselors and staff from area elementary schools, were treated to lunch and a personalized shopping trip at Walmart with a local police officer.

All this Christmas spirit comes due to the generosity of local benefactors who want to help police agencies to make sure all kids get a present for Christmas. Individuals, local organizations, and businesses donate money to the police fund for this event. Each child is allotted the same amount of money to spend.

All of that holiday generosity is not lost on the kids. In fact, local police officers reported that the kids are not content spending their allotments all on themselves. Rather they ask to buy something for their siblings and parents as well.

It was a busy day at the Mesquite Walmart. The store management was prepared with dedicated check-out lanes, plenty of large bags, and staff dressed in holiday garb to help out.

There were 80 kids from the Virgin Valley area assisted by the Mesquite Police, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Mohave County Sheriff Department, Nevada Highway Patrol and the Constable’s office.

Ten children were transported across the mesa from Moapa Valley by Las Vegas Metro Police officers from the northeast resident area.
“We enjoy this day every year,” said Walmart front-end coach Jean Reber who supervised the day’s event. “Staff who are not scheduled to work come in anyway just to be a part of this. It is a heartwarming thing to see!”

It may have been a little unnerving for regular shoppers who may have been unaware that it was Shop-with-a-Cop day. Many aisles were clogged with kids, law enforcement uniforms, baskets, and smiling faces.

But the whole scene was filled with fun, cheer and joy. One of the officer’s wives even came dressed as the Christmas Grinch. She drew smiles by pretending to swipe items out of the kids carts. A few times, the kids had to do a little police work of their own, chasing and apprehending the Grinch to get their presents back.

Some of the Mesquite police volunteers were on hand to help out. City Council members Wes Boger and Pattie Gallo were there to keep things moving; as were Deputy City Manager Martine Green, Assistant to the Mayor Nancy Hewet.

Mesquite Police Chief Maquade Chesley was assisting kids too. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who had come to help and to those who donated to make Christmas possible for the kids.

Following the purchases at Walmart, the Virgin Valley children and officers were treated to lunch by the Mesquite Elks Club at the Elks Lodge.

Metro Sergeant Keegan Doty expressed appreciation to the Overton McDonalds in providing lunch for the Moapa Valley kids on the way to Mesquite.

He was also grateful to his officers who had been determined to transport as many kids as possible over the mesa to the event.
“We do not have as many officers in Moapa Valley as in Mesquite, so it is really a big deal to get so many of us over here,” he said.

Doty explained that the funds for participating kids from Grant Bowler Elementary and Ute Perkins Elementary are all raised from Moapa Valley businesses, organizations and individuals. He acknowledged and appreciated those who had been so generous.

After the shopping spree, the Metro officers returned the kids to school in Moapa Valley. The officers and their families then met together in the afternoon to wrap all of the gifts and deliver them to the children and their families.

“It was a fantastic time to be with the kids,” Doty said. “We were able to interact with them and do something fun that they normally wouldn’t do in a school day.”