Kitsap County kids ready to Shop-with-a-Cop

The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Corrections Officers Association will host its seventh annual “Shop with a Cop” Christmas program from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Poulsbo Walmart store.

The program is designed to help bring holiday joy to disadvantaged children in the community, and help foster positive community relations between law enforcement and these youngsters.

Participating agencies include:

• Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies, corrections officers, support specialists, evidence technicians, Citizens on Patrol volunteers and sheriff’s administration;

• Port Orchard, Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Poulsbo

and Suquamish Police Departments;

• Washington State Patrol (District 8)

• Kitsap County Central Communications;

• Washington State Department of Corrections;

• U.S. Army;

• U.S. Navy;

• U.S. Coast Guard;

• Washington State Army National Guard; and,

• Cadets from military reserve officer training corps units

“Shop with a Cop” is centered on community participation and law-enforcement support.

The children will be provided $100 gift cards to spend on Christmas shopping however they may wish.

Uniformed escorts act as chaperons to help the junior shoppers make sound decisions and assist them in keeping track of how much they spend.

The goal for Christmas 2010 is to provide this opportunity for 100 children, some who are homeless and living out of shelters.

This number is a significant increase from the program’s first launch, in December 2004, when 28 children participated.

Funding for the “Shop with a Cop” program was raised through volunteer efforts by officers with the Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division, South Kitsap High School Navy Junior ROTC cadets and various family members and friends.

The children will be met at WalMart by uniformed personnel where they will pair-up with their designated cop, while awaiting the arrival of Sheriff Steve Boyer, who will be escorting Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus to the store.

Each child will have the opportunity to have his or her photograph taken with a uniformed officer and the Clauses, and then begin their shopping expedition.

The children may use the money to purchase gifts for themselves or family members or friends.

Gift wrapping will be available.

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