Bringing Christmas cheer to children

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Weston County youth will have the opportunity to ‘Shop with a Cop’ next week thanks to the Weston County Peace Officers Association. According to Melissa Stubbs, a spokesperson for the association, this will be their second year holding this event for children, and little has changed since last year. 
“We are going to shop at Bomgaars since Shopko is closed,” Stubbs said. “We went and checked it out and there are quite a few aisles of toys and a nice assortments of clothes, coats, gloves and other outdoor gear. They have enough stuff that this should not cause an issue with our program.” 
According to Stubbs, this year’s event will provide between 40 and 50 local kids the opportunity to enjoy breakfast at Grazers in the Newcastle Lodge and Convention Center with the officers before heading out on a parade that will end at Bomgaars for the shopping adventure. 
Officers from surrounding communities will participate in the event, and Stubbs said she anticipates 20 to 25 officers or deputies representing Upton, the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp, Wyoming Game and Fish, Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Weston County Sheriff’s Office, Newcastle Police Department, as well as potentially officers or deputies from surrounding counties, depending on availability.  
Stubbs said this program is important for several reasons, including the opportunity to make the shopping trip about the kids and the interaction with the officers. 
“I think it is important that the kids get to have this positive interaction with the officers and deputies,” Stubbs said. “And this is a great opportunity to make that happen.” 
The Shop with a Cop experience will begin Dec. 14 at 6 a.m. at Grazers for breakfast.