Officers and kids from throughout the valley being greeted by Santa Clause during law enforcement’s Shop with a Cop event at the North Logan Walmart, Dec. 9, 2023.
LOGAN — More than 200 law enforcement personnel joined forces Saturday morning, Dec. 9, for their annual Shop with a Cop event. The yearly tradition gave 39 children the chance to choose Christmas gifts for themselves and their families, with the help of officers, deputies, and volunteers.
North Park Police Chief Kent Goodrich was again the lead organizer of this year’s event and worked with the Family Place to select the children. He said the program not only helps families in need, but also builds friendships between the kids and law enforcement.
“The reality is, these kids have a harder life,” said Goodrich. “One of the foundations of law enforcement is that we believe in the motto: we protect and we serve. Today is certainly a day of service. We have the opportunity as officers to give back to the community, and maybe take some of the harsh realities that these kids face and see everyday, and make it a little better.”
The kids who were chosen this year were invited to the Cache County Sheriff’s Office, where they were first partnered with a law enforcement member. They then had a chance to eat breakfast together, complete with scrambled eggs, french toast, sausage and hash browns, provided by jail staff.
After breakfast, the kids were chauffeured in a full police procession, with lights and sirens, to the North Logan Walmart, where they were greeted by Santa Claus, riding in on a North Logan firetruck.
Each law enforcement member was given a list of some of their child’s needs and wants along with $250. Goodrich said that was more money than they were able to have in years past, thanks to the local donations the police department had received.
“Last year we were able to do only $140 a child,” explained Goodrich. “As everybody knows, money doesn’t go as far right now. Prices are going up and that extra bit of money allows the kids to do just a little more. We are grateful for the partnerships, generosity, and the spirit of Christmas we’ve seen demonstrated by people and businesses.”
While some children headed to the toy department, many were seen looking for warm clothes and other necessities for their families. One girl brought tears to other’s eyes, when she asked to buy a bed to sleep on.
Except for several years during the COVID pandemic, Shop with a Cop has been a yearly tradition in Cache Valley that goes back decades. It is one of the few events where all the various law enforcement agencies can come together.
This year, Goodrich also reached out to the city councils of North Logan and Hyde Park, along with others, to ask if they would like to help. The volunteers set up gift wrapping stations in the front of the store, to wrap each child’s presents when they were done shopping.
“We have city council members from both cities here, along with youth groups and the Cache County Victim Advocates,” explained Goodrich. “They are assisting these kids to wrap their presents, in order to make things a little smoother and easier.”
Goodrich said the community support has been overwhelming this year. His department is already looking ahead to next year and inviting anyone who would like to help, to contact the North Park Police Department about making a donation.