PB Police Department takes kids shopping
The Pine Bluff Police Department’s second annual “Shop with a Cop” last week was a huge success, according to Lt. DeShawn Bennett in a news release.
“Chief [Denise] Richardson’s mission was for our agency to ‘Pay It Forward’ and we did, gracefully,” Bennett wrote.
More than 20 off-duty officers escorted parents and students to Walmart using blue lights and sirens with hopes of achieving a positive experience.
“We were able to be a blessing to a total of 10 students (ages 4-7) from various schools such as Friendship Academy, Broadmoor Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, James Mathews Elementary, David Vaughn Head Start and Blake Street Head Start,” Bennett wrote.
The students were preselected by the principals or counselors of their schools. The PBPD gifted each student with a $120 gift card to Walmart. Two officers assisted them as they selected their gifts.
Once at the register, if the student went over the amount gifted, an officer would bless the student by using their own money to complete the transaction.
Domino’s Pizza and PBPD Office Manager Bonnie Butler gifted the students, parents and officers with a pizza party at the Detective Kevin D. Collins Training Center.
Bennett and his wife, Ansheka Bennett (CSO Head Start Program Manager) purchased Christmas cookies, cupcakes, and drinks for everyone to enjoy. They also sponsored gifts for the parents who participated. Parents were given tickets and if their number was called, they received gifts, two of which were two 32-inch televisions.
Capt. Jason Howard, the Bennetts, Lt. Jeremy Brown and Sergeant Sabrina Washington also sponsored bicycles for our 10 stu
dents as a “Special Gift.”
“We would also like to thank CSO Head Start ERSEA Coordinator, Vivian Eaton-Jenkins, for her assistance with this event,” Bennett said.
The PBPD also thanked: Chief Richardson; Assistant Chief Kelven Hadley; Captain Jason Howard;
Lieutenants Bennett, Brown, Brett Talley and Derric Neal;
Sergeants Sabrina Washingtonn, Shanee Jackson, Jacqueline Stevenson, Desiree Shy, Keith Banks, Corey Wilfong, Chris Wieland and Jeremy Crosby;
FTOs Jarrell Johnson, Deaunuana Roberts, Dante Nicholson and Deondre Goodwin;
Officers Britta Funderburg, Chase Yancy, Jimmiesha Palmer, John Woods and Cameron McKindra; and Recruit Officer Karvarious Jones.