Shop With A Cop Event Was Heart-Warming

I've said it a thousand times, but, we are blessed in the Tri-State with amazing law enforcement officers and departments. This week, I was able to, once again, witness this first-hand. Carsyn and I had the pleasure of tagging along for the FOP's annual Shop with a Cop event here in Owensboro. My Owensboro Police Department friends set everything up and we joined in on the great night.

After a pizza dinner (donated by several local businesses) for the officers and recipient families, the kiddos were matched up with their officer and loaded up buses and headed to Wal-Mart. Let's also give a big shout-out to the Owensboro and Daviess County school systems for donating the buses for the night and to the drivers who volunteered their time. The procession of law enforcement vehicles from Hall Street Baptist Church to Wal-Mart was massive! Officers from the OPD, Daviess County Sheriff, KSP, Daviess County Jail, Daviess County constables, EMT, the juvenial detention center and more proudly escorted the over 80 kids and their families. (Sidenote: I told Carsyn this better be the only time she was in the back of a cop car! She giggled...)

Watching the officers and the children work together was the highlight of the night. The kids, their families and the officers had a great time picking out clothes and toys. The interaction with the officers and relationships that were built during the event are priceless. These kids are learning that the police officers are there to help and that you can always trust them.

Although I'm pretty sure the officers were blessed just as much as the kids were, Shop with a Cop is a wonderful event and I'm proud that our local law enforcement works as hard as they do to make it a success every year.