Local children to Shop With a Cop

City police, firefighters holding annual event Tuesday

Santa-Cops are coming to town Tuesday morning for Arkansas-and Texas-side police departments’ annual Shop With a Cop event, contributing to the Christmas cheer of about 200 area children.

“Officers from all over Texarkana will line up at the Bi-State (Justice Building) at 8:30 a.m. and convoy with lights and sirens to Walmart,” said Cpl. Kristi Bennett, Texarkana, Ark., Police Department spokeswoman. “This year, with the continuous support of our local contributors, almost 100 children from here in Texarkana will receive something special this holiday season.”

As TAPD officers convoy over to Walmart on Arkansas Boulevard to pair up with local kiddos, Texarkana, Texas, police will do their annual Shop With a Cop and Firefighter at Target on Richmond Road, said Shawn Vaughn, Texarkana, Texas, Police Department spokesman. Public servants from several agencies across Bowie County will participate, pairing up with about 100 children chosen by an outside agency.

Vaughn said each child chosen for the annual event will be given $100 to shop for gifts of their choosing with a public servant, including firefighters on the Texas side. Vaughn said Target provides some of the money used for the event with a grant, while funds also come from agency fundraisers and community donations.

“The community really comes out and gets involved,” Vaughn said. “It’s truly a countywide event in terms of working for these kids.”

Bennett said Arkansas-side police enjoy being able to provide so many children with something special for the holiday season. Each child shopping with TAPD will also receive $100 to spend on Christmas gifts.

“The annual Shop With a Cop program and Cops and Kids program is a spirit of fellowship that takes place during the holiday season and reinforces the positive aspects of community and police relationships,” Bennett explained.

According to Vaughn, the officers look forward to the event as much as or more than the children do.

“To me, this is what Christmas is all about—doing something for someone else,” Vaughn said. “I personally look forward to this every year. We are excited to once again have the opportunity to help make Christmas special for some children.”

“We are blessed to live and work in this community and want to give something back,” he said.

TAPD will also hold their annual Cops and Kids meal next Thursday at Pizza Inn on North State Line Avenue, according to Bennett, who said officers will arrive at the police station at 5 p.m. and form two convoys—one to Texarkana Baptist Orphanage and the other to Watersprings Ranch—to pick up children for a ride in the patrol cars with officers to have a pizza dinner.