Not even the Grinch could ruin Shop-with-a-Cop
Photos by HEATHER COWAN Cops and kids get together at the Shoshone County Fire District No. 1 firehouse to get a group shot of the Saturday shopping group.
Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office deputy William Keller smiles with some participating kids just as they walk into Walmart to shop.
Photo by HEATHER COWAN Osburn Police Chief Darrel Braaten, officer Jason Woody and reserve officer Corey Thompson pose with the events special guests — McGruff the Crime Dog, Santa and the Grinch.
Photo by HEATHER COWAN Sheriff Mike Gunderson shops with his kids at Walmart.
Photo by HEATHER COWAN Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office jail Sgt. Eli Lopez heads to checkout with his shopping partners.
Photo by HEATHER COWAN Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office deputy Dameon Groves helps wraps some presents.
Photo by HEATHER COWAN Patrol cars filled with excited kids line the street as they make their way west to Smelterville.
OSBURN — What better way to do some holiday shopping than with a police escort?
That’s the opportunity 83 Silver Valley kids had this last weekend when they participated in the fourth annual “Shop-with-a-Cop” program.
Held on both Saturday and Sunday, members of the participating law enforcement agencies met up with the participating kids at the new Shoshone County Fire District No. 1 firehouse in Osburn. Participating agencies included the Osburn Police Department, Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and the Kellogg Police Department.
From the firehouse, kids piled into the many patrol cars available for them and got to ride in style to Walmart in Smelterville.
Once they arrived, the children were paired up with a deputy or officer and then set loose in the store. Each child had a budget of $100 to spend on whatever they wanted for themselves or others.
As the kids searched for gifts, their assigned officer or deputy would help them decide what to get and keep track of how much money they had spent.
Similar to years past, items purchased included a variety of different things. From clothing and tools to toys and electronics — nothing was off the table.
After four years, Osburn Police Chief and event organizer Darell Braaten is not surprised by the children’s selflessness when it comes to buying gifts. It’s become common now that officers or deputies have to push many of the children to get something for themselves and not just spend their whole allowance on presents for friends and family.
Once their items were selected and the march through the checkout line was complete, everybody in the police cars headed back to the firehouse where more fun was waiting.
Volunteers were on hand to help the kids wrap their presents and treat them to a pizza party.
Members of the U.S. Postal Service were once again on hand to accept letters to Santa. These USPS employees not only take these letters to Kris Kringle himself, but they also ensure that he handwrites each child back a letter that is postmarked from the North Pole.
Special guests included Santa himself, McGruff the Crime Dog … and the Grinch (who, shockingly, tried to steal Christmas).
“The Grinch came in, saw some Christmas packages sitting on a table there, threw them into a bag and started heading towards the door!” Chief Braaten said. “Yeah, he was gonna steal them gifts, but McGruff saw that, hooked him up, threw him in the patrol car and hauled him away.”
The Grinch ended up talking with McGruff a little later after the incident and apologized for taking the presents, so he was allowed to rejoin the party.
“Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store,” the Grinch reportedly said. “Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
Due to the number of children, Braaten has had to make the “Shop-with-a-Cop” program a two-day event. This means that roughly half of the children go on Saturday and the rest go Sunday.
“We’re up in numbers again and both days went great,” Braaten said.
While donations to the program were down, the number of participants continues to grow, as this year’s number of kids was up 23 from last year.
Braaten would like to thank the various agencies, contributors and volunteers for doing their part to make this special event happen again.
“Without everyone’s involvement, we would not be able to pull off this event.”
The OPD accepts donations to fund the Shop-with-a-Cop program year-round. Their office can be reached at 208-753-9001.