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Rexburg’s Shop With A Cop is ‘pure joy’ for everyone involved

Rexburg Police Cpl. Ryan Kamachi being led to the font of Walmart handcuffed by a child. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com

REXBURG — Upper Valley and Teton Valley law enforcement teamed up with area kids Saturday morning to make sure they got a decent Christmas.

The annual Shop With A Cop event provided an early morning wake-up call Saturday as dozens of kids got to ride down Main Street Rexburg in patrol cars with the sirens on at the crack of dawn.

“Shop With A Cop is just joy,” Madison County Sheriff Rick Henry said. “The joy you see on the kids face, the opportunity that we have to give back to those who are needy in some way or another.”

Rexburg’s Shop With A Cop brings in law enforcement officers from Madison, Jefferson, Fremont, Teton and Clark counties to shop with children who otherwise may not have been able to have a Christmas.

Rexburg Police Lt. Colin Erickson is one of the organizers of the event. He said this year close to 70 kids went shopping with officers. The kids get to choose a gift and get to pick out gifts for their families, representing some 350 to 400 people in the Upper Valley and Teton Valley.

In addition to shopping and the patrol vehicle parade — the kids and officers also ate breakfast at McDonalds.

Erickson said for over 20 years local law enforcement have organized Shop With A Cop, which gives them the chance to do a “great” and “positive” service for the children and bring smiles to their faces. He said it allows the kids to experience the good side of law enforcement.

“We are out there to help and we want (the kids) to know that we’re there for them if they ever need us,” Erickson said.

Henry said for him the greatest part is seeing when the kids are focused on their mom and dad or siblings. “They get it,” he said.

“As early as it is in the morning by the time you get done it’s like that moment where you’re like ‘I’m so glad that I was able to be part of that,’” Henry said.

An Idaho State Police Trooper helps a child at the 2019 Shop With A Cop in Rexburg | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com

The entire group attending Shop With A Cop 2019 in Rexburg. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com

A Rexburg Police Officer helps a young girl reach a toy during the 2019 Shop With A Cop. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com

A Bureau of Land Management officer helps a young boy choose a hat at the 2019 Shop With A Cop | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com

A St. Anthony Police Officer shopping with a child during the Shop With A Cop event. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com

A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy shopping with his new friend Devin at the 2019 Shop With A Cop | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com

An Idaho Department of Fish and Game conservation officer leans over to listen to a child at McDonalds before heading to Walmart for the 2019 Shop With A Cop. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com

Rexburg Police Sgt. Hermosillo helps a young girl push a cart at Shop With A Cop. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com


Source: eastidahonews.com

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