Shop with a Cop a holiday treat

Allowance can only go so far, and when your family is going through rough times? Forget it. 

But every year, around the holidays, the Lawton Police Department and the Lawton chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police seek to fix that. 

LPD and FOP joined forces to bring back Shop with a Cop Tuesday evening at Target, 2030 NW 82nd. The annual event selects a fifth grader from every elementary school in Lawton, including Bishop and Flower Mound, to shop for themselves and whomever else they’d like. Students shop with a designated officer in order to be more comfortable around them and build good rapport.

Detective Donald Pauley, President of FOP, said each student gets $150 to spend how they like, but are encouraged to shop for themselves first.

Gerard Young, a 5th grader from Edison Elementary, was surprised when he heard he was chosen for the event. He decided to shop for himself and his brothers.

“I haven’t heard of it,” Gerard said. “It just popped up and then my mom told me and I got happy.”

Officer Zaria Jessie said the funds for the event come from FOP Lodge. They anticipated 22 students to take part.

Students pushed carts around the store with a blue or white balloon attached, letting patrons and employees know they were a part of the event. The most popular places to shop in the store were the clothes, toys and electronics sections, with the majority gravitating towards video games.

After shopping, the students came to the front of the store to get their presents wrapped by members and volunteers for the LPD and FOP.