On Saturday, December 15, 50 kids and 26 law enforcement officers took part in the first Shop with a Cop in the greater Battle Creek area. The program was organized by MSP Community Services Trooper Kristi Angelo, and a committee of representatives from 5 different law enforcement agencies, including the Battle Creek Police Department, Emmett Township Public Safety, Springfield Public Safety, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department, the Department of Human Services, and Neighborhoods, Inc.
Bill Phillips, CEO of Neighborhoods Inc., volunteered to provide the majority of the funding for the program, as well as serving as the fiscal agent, “It was very gratifying to see the interactions between the kids and their cops. The program is intended to create and reinforce bonds and relationships with our community’s young people to law enforcement. We want to nurture positive attitudes during the child’s early stages of development so that they grow up without fear or hesitancy to talk with an officer if something bad happens. All in all, it appears to have been a great first effort for the program. We look forward to many more.”
Shoppers and cops gathered at the Burnham Brook Community Center in downtown Battle Creek, along with volunteers from the law enforcement program at the Calhoun Area Career Center. After the shoppers were matched up with their law enforcement partner, who was likely to be a sergeant, a lieutenant or a police chief, and they made their shopping lists and checked them twice.
the boarded buses donated by the City of Battle Creek. Patrol cars with light flashing and sirens blaring formed up in front of and behind the buses, creating a noisy motorcade worthy of a chief of state, to escort the shoppers to and from Walmart.
Upon arriving at Walmart, shoppers each received gift cards valued at $86, and the shopping began. The toy aisles were the most popular as cops and shoppers, but clothing and shoes also filled the carts. After going through one of the dedicated checkout lanes, a smiling Walmart associate served punch and cookies to the cops and their shoppers.
Troy Estill, the Store Director of the Battle Creek Walmart was enthusiastic about the program. In addition to adding $11 to each shopper's gift card, he also donated the gift-wrapping supplies and the punch and cookies. He had good things to say about the event, "I thought this was fantastic. I heard a lot of stories from our associates about how efficiently everything was run." What really impressed the associates wasn't the organization of the event. He noted that, "it was quite common for kids to go over the amounts on their gift cards and the officers reached into their pockets and made up the difference."
The motorcade took the shoppers back to Burnham Brook for a pizza party, gift wrapping, photos with Santa, and the chance to spend a little time with their parents and their new friends.
Chief Scott Furgason, Director of Public Safety for the City of Springfield, enjoyed the event, "I think it went very, well. I had a good time and my kids enjoyed themselves and it was well received." He noted that there were a lot of nice comments made by customers at Walmart, "people walked up to me and said that what you guys are doing is really great." The chief commented that he is looking forward to next year's program.
Lead organizer Community Services Trooper Kristi Angelo was very pleased with how the event came together, "I would like to thank everyone for participating and all the hard work that was done. I look forward to this being an annual event for years to come. It was fun to take part in and showed how different law enforcement agencies and the community can well together." She continued, "The kids were amazing. I enjoyed seeing the smiles, that's for sure. It is something that will stay in my heart forever and ever."
Bill Phillips, CEO of Neighborhoods Inc., volunteered to provide the majority of the funding for the program, as well as serving as the fiscal agent, “It was very gratifying to see the interactions between the kids and their cops. The program is intended to create and reinforce bonds and relationships with our community’s young people to law enforcement. We want to nurture positive attitudes during the child’s early stages of development so that they grow up without fear or hesitancy to talk with an officer if something bad happens. All in all, it appears to have been a great first effort for the program. We look forward to many more.”
Shoppers and cops gathered at the Burnham Brook Community Center in downtown Battle Creek, along with volunteers from the law enforcement program at the Calhoun Area Career Center. After the shoppers were matched up with their law enforcement partner, who was likely to be a sergeant, a lieutenant or a police chief, and they made their shopping lists and checked them twice.
the boarded buses donated by the City of Battle Creek. Patrol cars with light flashing and sirens blaring formed up in front of and behind the buses, creating a noisy motorcade worthy of a chief of state, to escort the shoppers to and from Walmart.
Upon arriving at Walmart, shoppers each received gift cards valued at $86, and the shopping began. The toy aisles were the most popular as cops and shoppers, but clothing and shoes also filled the carts. After going through one of the dedicated checkout lanes, a smiling Walmart associate served punch and cookies to the cops and their shoppers.
Troy Estill, the Store Director of the Battle Creek Walmart was enthusiastic about the program. In addition to adding $11 to each shopper's gift card, he also donated the gift-wrapping supplies and the punch and cookies. He had good things to say about the event, "I thought this was fantastic. I heard a lot of stories from our associates about how efficiently everything was run." What really impressed the associates wasn't the organization of the event. He noted that, "it was quite common for kids to go over the amounts on their gift cards and the officers reached into their pockets and made up the difference."
The motorcade took the shoppers back to Burnham Brook for a pizza party, gift wrapping, photos with Santa, and the chance to spend a little time with their parents and their new friends.
Chief Scott Furgason, Director of Public Safety for the City of Springfield, enjoyed the event, "I think it went very, well. I had a good time and my kids enjoyed themselves and it was well received." He noted that there were a lot of nice comments made by customers at Walmart, "people walked up to me and said that what you guys are doing is really great." The chief commented that he is looking forward to next year's program.
Lead organizer Community Services Trooper Kristi Angelo was very pleased with how the event came together, "I would like to thank everyone for participating and all the hard work that was done. I look forward to this being an annual event for years to come. It was fun to take part in and showed how different law enforcement agencies and the community can well together." She continued, "The kids were amazing. I enjoyed seeing the smiles, that's for sure. It is something that will stay in my heart forever and ever."