Some parents ask police officers to “scare” unruly children. A mom or dad can’t get a small child to behave and the police officer is asked to threaten that misbehavior leads to jail.
Many police officers will refuse such a request. Many will say they don’t want the view of a police officer as the bad guy to be a small child’s introduction to law-enforcement.
Programs like today’s Fifth Annual Shop With A Cop introduces police officers as good guys to area children.
Shop With A Cop participants are selected by the staff of the Valdosta Police Department and Sallas Mahone Elementary School. During the event, the children meet at Wal-Mart at 3274 Inner Perimeter Road, receive Wal-Mart gift cards, and partner with law-enforcement officers to shop.
Remerton police officers and uniformed officers from Moody Air Force Base also participate in today’s Shop With A Cop.
An estimated 36 children will benefit from this year’s Shop With A Cop program. That’s 36 children who will come away with a new impression of law-enforcement.
“Not only does this event benefit the students, who get a little extra help during the holiday season, but it also shows these kids a different side of law-enforcement officers,” said Valdosta Police Department Officer Vernotis Williams. “Kids have a tendency to see us as bad. Through this program, they have the opportunity to see us as people they can approach.”
For all they normally do, and helping Santa Claus, too, kids learn that police are indeed the good guys all yearround.
