Building bonds beyond the badge
By Linda Gordon
linda.gordon@hartselleenquirer.com
A line of police cruisers and unmarked vehicles rolled into the parking lot at Hartselle Walmart with lights flashing Dec. 20. The excitement was contagious as 10 children, each partnered with an Hartselle police officer, entered the store for the annual Shop with a Cop event. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as some on-duty police officers, also joined the festive group of young shoppers and happy onlookers.
Children pushed shopping carts along store aisles selecting toys, small appliances, cozy blankets and other items to make for a merry Christmas morning of gifts given and received.
Capt. Alan McDearmond said guidance counselors from Hartselle City Schools selected children to participate in the program. The partnering officers make a point to encourage the children to select at least one gift for someone else as they shop. “We want to teach them to be selfless. But most of them, when they come up here, all they want to do is shop for somebody else,” he said. “We have to make some of them buy for themselves.”
This is the second year Officer Byron Williams has participated as a shopping partner in the event. Williams remarked at how eager the children are to find gifts to give to parents, grandparents and siblings, “It seems like these kids just have big hearts,” he said. “Given the opportunity, and the money, many are less apt to buy for themselves, and more apt to buy for others when given that opportunity.”
“It’s really fun,” chimed in Officer Alyssa Davis, who was a first-time shopping partner this year. “It’s just nice to watch them roam around the store and get whatever they want.” Her partner selected a warm blanket to give her grandmother, as well as some items for herself.
Walmart workers and passers-by were caught up in the excitement. “You’ve made my day,” one Walmart employee said as she assisted two excited young brothers with their selection of matching child-sized motorcycles. Other smiling shoppers slipped money to the officers for the children to use.
After the shopping spree, the children and officers returned to the Hartselle police station to sort through their purchases and share a meal together, catered by Pizza Ed of Hartselle.
A number of local businesses and organizations contributed to the event, including Woodmen of the World, Hartselle Kiwanis Club, Hartselle Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni Association (HCPAAA), Drake Eye Center, Farmers’ Home Furniture and the Decatur Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). Individual donors, many of whom were anonymous, also chipped in to make the event a huge success for the children.
