Another big year for Shoshone County Shop-With-A-Cop

OSBURN –– Shop-With-A-Cop was more than a little bittersweet this year. Once again, the event demonstrated the incredible generosity of the Silver Valley community while also allowing 84 kids the opportunity to experience the human side of law enforcement.  

It was also the final time that Osburn Police Chief Darell Braaten would be participating in the two-day shopping extravaganza. Chief Braaten, who began the event in 2016, will be retiring in the coming months.  

The Shop-With-A-Cop premise is simple: kids in need are allotted a set amount of money to purchase gifts for their immediate family members and themselves. Once the big day arrives, they are squired to and from Smelterville Walmart in either a police car or an EMS vehicle, complete with lights and sirens.  

Lt. Jason Woody, Braaten’s righthand man at OPD for several years, worked alongside his boss to make sure the event went as smoothly as possible.  

“Both days were outstanding,” Woody said. “On day one we had 40 kids that participated.  As always, they had a blast shopping for themselves as well as friends and family members.” 

40 kids each day stretched the Silver Valley’s law enforcement personnel, but when they ran out of cops, other local first responders stepped up to make sure each kid had a local hero to shop with.  

“Shoshone County Fire District’s #1 & 2 stepped up and transported some of the children,” Woody said. “On both days the children were entertained by the presence of Santa Claus and the Grinch.” 

Each day, following the shopping, the kids ride back to the SCFD1 Firehouse in Osburn, where they were treated to a pizza party while also getting help from several volunteers wrapping their recently purchased gifts.  

“We had plenty of volunteers this year,” Woody said. “Without each volunteer, this program would not be possible. Each and every one of them is an asset to making this program successful.” 

Shop-With-A-Cop is funded through community donations. Braaten and Woody work hard to make sure each child receives at least $100 to spend.  

The event has grown significantly since 2016 but has settled in right around 80 to 100 kids annually. Compare that to other nearby agencies that put on similar events and its shocking how great the need in Shoshone County is. According to Chief Braaten, in 2023, Kootenai County had 22 children participate, Spokane County had 50 children participate, and King County (Seattle area) had 75 children participate. 

Braaten’s retirement is certainly a loss for the community, but Woody has already promised to keep the tradition of Shop-With-A-Cop alive and well.  

“I want to thank Chief Braaten for spearheading Shop-With-A-Cop throughout the entire county and putting his heart into it each year,” Woody said. “It will be sad not to have him with us next year, but I plan to keep his legacy alive and growing.”  

    Lots of happy, smiling faces (kids and adults) following the Shop-With-A-Cop pizza party at Shoshone County Fire District #1 in Osburn.
  

    There's nothing that Deputy Mike Groves enjoys more than shopping for toys.