PHILADELPHIA, PA–The Philadelphia Police Department’s fourth annual Shop With a Cop event on Friday, December 14, 2024, arrived at Walmart’s Columbus Boulevard store in South Philadelphia, complete with a blue Santa and 500 satisfied children–who represented every police district in the city. The children were identified and selected by officers from each police district. Some children have been victims of fire, while others have been affected by a parent’s job loss, incarceration, or other unfortunate circumstances.
It seemed pretty clear, by the smiles on the kids’ faces, everyone involved had big fun. Each child bought whatever they wanted with the gift card worth $150 they received from the Police Department. Kids visited with Santa and Mrs. Claus before being paired with a police officer and escorted through Walmart–most kids started shopping in the toy department.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and his deputy commissioners all attended Shop With a Cop, as did SWAT, the Highway Unit, police district advisory council members, police chaplains, the Phanatic, the Grinch, Frosty the Snowman, and lots of happy parents and children. The Philadelphia Fire Department was there and passed out firefighter hats and a bag of goodies, and the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary gave out homemade cookies.
For the fourth year, Columbus Boulevard McDonald’s owner Rupi Singh, a longtime friend of the 12th District, fed all who participated in Shop With a Cop.
Philadelphia’s Shop With a Cop activity started in the Community Relations Office at the 12th Police District at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The first one was called the Joe Young Shop With a Cop in honor of the children’s holiday parties retired Community Relations Officer Joe Young held for needy children on the 12th. The first Shop With a Cop was so successful that in 2021, the Police Department’s Community Relations team raised funds and made Shop With a Cop a citywide event. In 2022, the department named 12th District Community Relations Officer Arnold Mitchell the department’s Shop With a Cop Ambassador.
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