SHOP WITH A COP… Officers and Deputies shop with children inside Walmart in Bryan. (PHOTO PROVIDED)
By: Jacob Kessler
Law enforcement agencies from around Williams County participated in the Shop With A Cop Event. On Saturday, December 11th, officers came to shop with over 150 children from within the county at Walmart in Bryan. Officers walked through the isles with the children as they looked for toys and electronics that they may want this holiday season.
The event is a great way for children to receive gifts this Christmas, but it also helps officers spend more time with youth in the area.
Officers got to meet and talk with the children and give them a positive view of law enforcement as a whole. Both children and officers had fun looking through everything the store had to offer.
The fun was not yet done though, as everyone was invited to go to the Bryan movie theater after shopping was done. There, everyone enjoyed pizza and watched movies and had even more fun. Extra chairs were even needed in order to fit everyone in.
The event is part of a much larger program that is done in Williams County. The program is run by the Captain Custar Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #181 that serves all law enforcement officers in Williams County. The program will reach over 300 children this year as it was expanded in order to try and reach as many kids as it can.
According to Bryan Police Sergeant and President of FOP lodge #181 Jeremy Viers, the program has been a success and is still ongoing.
“We still have some more events coming up for the rest of this year to try to reach more kids. We continue to get thank you cards and a lot of appreciation.”
“It was nice to get back to some normalcy. For us, it is a great opportunity for law enforcement to be together in a positive encounter.”
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com
