Shop With A Cop 2016

For the first time, Tualatin Police Department participated in the national Shop With a Cop event on Thursday, December 1, 2016.  It was a great success and so much fun!  Take a look at the slideshow of pictures for some of the highlights.  Tualatin Police Officers had the opportunity to take eight children from local grade schools shopping for gifts for their siblings.  After shopping, Fred Meyer's treated the kids to lunch with the officers, then each child was given a winter jacket.  This was an amazing experience for the store employees, officers, volunteers and kids, really emphasizing the true meaning of serving others and teaching kids the spirit of giving.

The purpose of the event is to foster positive relationships between underprivileged youth and police officers. Children who are in the age group of K - 6th grade will be selected by school councilors during the holiday season to shop at one of the local area stores to purchase gifts for members of their immediate family. Each child is given a small amount of money to spend, normally $50-$100 depending on the size of the child's immediate family. Approximately 1-2 children are assigned to each police officer, who then escorts them around the store and assists in selecting appropriate gifts for each family member. The children are told, and understand, that the money is not for personal use and must only be spent on family members. After shopping, the children will eat lunch, wrap their gifts, and continue to get to know the police officers.

This is a nationally known program throughout the United States. This provides an opportunity for police officers to engage young people in a positive environment and helps build relations with community members that are unable to enjoy the holidays due to financial restraints.

This program was organized and made possible in Tualatin by the Tualatin Community Police Foundation (TUCPF).  For more information on the Shop With a Cop program and ways you can donate, email TUCPF Board Member Catherine Holland or Tualatin Police Chief Bill Steele.