Shop with a Cop returns for fifth year

DOWNEY — Downey Police Department participated in the fifth annual Shop with a Cop event over the weekend, continuing what is becoming one of the city’s holiday staples.

Shop with a Cop pairs Downey officers with children from in-need families, identified and selected by Downey Unified School District. Children selected were treated to breakfast before being transported via police motorcade to Walmart for a shopping spree.

Around 28 kids from 20 families were picked this year.

“It’s grown every year; the amount of money that children have to shop with has also increased,” said Ralph Diaz, president of the Downey Police Officers Association. “This year they got $400 to shop for themselves, and then they got another $100 in Walmart, and another $100 in grocery store gift cards, and then the mall gave them a $50 gift card to JCPenney.”

Several of Downey’s organizations and businesses pitched in this year, including Nissan, Walmart, Velasco Law Group, Financial Partners, State Farm Efferem Sanchez, Chick-fil-a, Downey Adult School, Rotary Club, Premiere Fitness, both Kiwanis Clubs, Make it Pop, The Pride Barbershop, Haus of Beauty, DUSD, and Walmart.

Sgt. Tim McCarthy, who organized the event, said that every family had a “different need and situation in life that is bringing them here.” He described Shop with a Cop as “the officers’ opportunity to show the community that there’s more to what we do than catching bad guys.”

“We have an opportunity to give back to the community,” said McCarthy. “Not only is it important for the kids, but it’s important for our officers to have this relationship building that we can with these younger kids, so that we can continue the positive relationship with the community that we currently have now.”

Once they arrived at the store, kids could be seen everywhere from the toy aisle, to the clothing section and electronics department. Many chose to buy presents for parents and siblings, as well as for themselves.

“They’re not just getting things for themselves, they’re not just being selfish,” said Diaz. “They’re spreading the cheer, just like we’re spreading the cheer.”

Diaz said the hope for the event was to always “get better” and “make people happy.” McCarthy added that the biggest thing was “to keep it Downey ran.”

“This program, everybody who participates is rooted here in the community,” said McCarthy. “The school district, all the businesses that helped participate…it all stays in the city, so everything they’re putting into this program, we’re putting right back into the community and into these kids, and that’s – for us- what’s important, and that’s not just for the kids, it’s for the families as well.”