(Photo by Kenosha Police Officer Kate Schaper)
KENOSHA, Wis. — The holiday season started early for 56 Kenosha children this weekend as they paired up with members of the Kenosha Police Department for the annual Shop with a Cop event — a tradition that continues to grow in size, generosity and community spirit.
Held Saturday morning at Walmart in Kenosha, each child received $250 to spend on gifts for themselves, giving families a rare opportunity to enjoy a stress-free morning of shopping, smiling and connecting with local officers. The event is designed to lift spirits during the holiday season while strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the families they serve.
Officers walked shoulder-to-shoulder with the kids, pushing carts, helping pick out toys, clothes and electronics, and sharing laughs along the way. Many parents and guardians stood nearby watching proudly as the children shopped and shared stories with the officers.
The department credited the success of this year’s event to numerous local partners and sponsors, including Walmart Kenosha, Morgan Sheppard, Summer Moon Kenosha, Paielli’s Bakery — which provided donuts — as well as volunteers who wrapped gifts and offered face painting.
Police said support from community donors played a major role in making sure every participant had a meaningful experience and left with gifts that will make their holiday brighter.
This year’s turnout reinforces the purpose of the program: to create positive, lasting memories between children and the officers who protect their neighborhoods — not through enforcement, but through kindness, shared time and simple joy.
According to the Kenosha Police Department, the Shop with a Cop event remains one of its “favorite events of the year,” and plans are already forming for next December.
All photos taken by Kenosha Police Officer Kate Schaper.
12 Responses
Did this before, but had a 300 lbs black lady yelling at me cause she wasn’t happy with the gift for her son. Never again!
At least the kids enjoy it, that’s all that matters.
This program is awesome! First it benefits the needier kids in Kenosha who may not get a gift. Second, it allows kids to interact with police officers, even if it’s only 30-40 minutes. Third, the parents get to see that the KPD cares for the kiddos. And finally, it’s good PR. In looking at these pics, I see some familiar faces (some are getting grayer-right Vinnie!) and lots of “new” (to me) kids. Great to see the TOP 3 in the pics too. And yes, I did catch of glimpse of Deates! Good job all! Merry Christmas!
And according to the hartford, Wisconsin police chief, it also reduces shoplifting at Walmarts. IYKYK
Are they volunteering or collecting overtime, I’ll hang up and listen
All volunteer
Volunteer, so you put your protest signs away now
Thanks for yet another example of how progressive liberals, are not very bright, but are proud to show that off.
Half these cops spend more time standing in drive thru and concession stands than being cops, the blonde cop and the black female with curly hair are the farthest from cops… maybe if these cops invested more time solving cases and less time taking photo shoots we’d have cases solved….
They made a kids day and made them smile, you obviously are incapable of that.
The two female officers you are referring to, are members of the Kenosha Police Department’s Community Engagement Team, therefor, this is why you will repeatedly seem pictures of them, out in the public, engaging with the community. The KPD community engagement team has several members that went through a selection process to be apart of the team, which is a voluntary position and these officers apart of the Community Engagement Team, typically attend community engagement events outside of their normal working hours, proving just how dedicated they are to serving this community. The community engagement team has worked incredibly hard to build positive relationships with members of our community. I assure you that both of these officers that you are referring to are stellar police officers and spend a lot more time in their roles as active police officers, rather than behind a camera at community engagement events. You should keep your ignorant comments to yourself, rather than spewing unnecessary and inaccurate venom about two police officers you have likely never met and about topics that you are obviously far from educated on.
Some people’s souls are so dark that they only take pleasure from the suffering of others.
This program pays out immediately for the entire community and in the future. Evil spreads through evil actions; goodness spreads through love and benevolent actions. That is how we improve the present and future lives of our community members.