Annual Shop With a Cop a Growing Tradition

Published on December 14, 2022

More than two dozen kids were greeted by the sounds of holiday cheer Saturday morning as they arrived at The Church of Latter Day Saints building on Homestead Drive clutching their shopping lists.

The kids were nominated by their teachers to participate in the 10th Annual Shop with a Cop event sponsored by the Maricopa Police Foundation and coordinated by countless volunteers. During the event, each child is provided with $150 to pick out Christmas gifts for themselves and family members. They are paired with a Maricopa Police Department officer who helps keep track of the totals and reach those higher shelves.

“Fundraising for this event is a year-long process and thanks to the continued support of Maricopa residents and businesses, we were able to make the holidays special for the kids who attended,” says Ricky Alvarado, President of the Maricopa Police Foundation.

This year, like so many before, the Lion’s Club of Maricopa stepped in to provide breakfast for everyone who attended, while Santa and Mrs.Claus visited with the children taking note of their holiday requests.

After filling up on pancakes, all the participants loaded up on buses and received an escort to the Walmart on Casa Grande-Maricopa Hwy complete with lights and sirens. Upon arrival, the officers and their shopping partners headed across the store. From finding the perfect shirt for mom to selecting the ultimate lego set for a brother they had their work cut out for them. In the end, each kid left with a handful of items to surprise their loved ones with on Christmas morning. 

“This event is the highlight of the holiday season for our officers,” says Sergent Hal Koozer, who has helped to coordinate the event for several years. “They volunteer to come in on their day off to meet these kids who will one day be leading the City of Maricopa. Just as this positively impacts the kids, it impacts the officers who participate as well.”

The Maricopa Police Foundation says they are always accepting donations to support programs such as these and to purchase extra equipment for the police department. They recently raised funds to buy a vest for MPD K9 Karma.

The Maricopa Police Foundation can be contacted at MaricopaPoliceFoundation@Gmail.com or their website https://www.maricopapolicefoundation.com/.

WATCH THE SHOP WITH A COP RECAP VIDEO HERE