Grays Harbor law enforcement organizes the first “Shop with a Cop” pandemic

Sixty elementary school students participated in the annual “Shop with a Cop” event hosted by Grays Harbor County Law Enforcement.

The students, who are selected by their teachers, were paired with law enforcement officers to enjoy free breakfast and holiday shopping at Walmart last weekend.

Unable to host the event last year due to COVID-19, county law enforcement was eager to join in the joyous celebration again.

“It’s something that we all enjoy and look forward to. Having a gap year definitely made this year special, ”said Sgt. Shane Krohn of the Hoquiam Police Department, who coordinated the event for the first time this year.

Hosting the event during the pandemic certainly presented challenges for Krohn and nearly 35 volunteers, but extra care was taken when serving breakfast and special Shop with a Cop masks were distributed to children. and officers to commemorate the experience.

After having breakfast at Hoquiam High School, the children were escorted to Walmart by a parade of law enforcement vehicles starting in the high school parking lot at 7:50 a.m. on Saturday, December 4.

“The children were loaded in the front passenger seat and sounded the sirens. I happened to ride in the backseat of one of our patrol cars and watched the kid assigned to Constable Slater enthusiastically press the buttons and change the siren to Walmart, ” Krohn said.

After arriving at Walmart, the students were accompanied by their assigned agent as they used their $ 100 gift cards to purchase gifts for themselves and their families. Nerf guns were the most popular gift kids chose, Krohn said, but games, stuffed animals, blankets, and candy were featured in their carts as well.

Planning for this year’s festivities began in May. Shop with a Cop is a national event held in Grays Harbor by Betty Crass of Montesano in 1998. Some officers, such as Cosmopolis chief Heath Layman, have participated regularly in the annual event since its introduction to the area.

Coordinator Sgt. Krohn is already planning next year’s event and has started on a list of improvements he would like to see.

“I liked being able to bring the event back and I think it ended up being very successful,” Krohn said.