Shopping with care

Officer Josh Burris walks the aisle with one of the kids participating in this year's Shop with a Cop. Eagerly, the two look for the best toys to get. Mail photo by J.T. Jones

Marshfield's finest gathered on Dec. 9 at the Marshfield Walmart SuperCenter, ready to participate in this year's Shop with a Cop. This annual event partners with the Webster County Children's Division and the Marshfield Walmart SuperCenter. Each year's goal is to provide children with a happier holiday season and encourage positive relationships with police. Mail Photos by J.T. Jones

Toys were not the only things kids got this year, as Officer Mike Seery and another kid checked out the latest makeup trends.

Posted Wednesday, December 13, 2023 2:00 am

By John “J.T.” Jones johnj@marshfieldmail.com

Last Saturday, Dec. 9, the Marshfield Police Department partnered with the Webster County Children's Division, and the Marshfield Walmart SuperCenter held its annual Shop with a Cop. This program was established in 1994 and is a yearly event sponsored by local law enforcement agencies that aims to provide children with a happier holiday season and encourage positive relationships with police.

"Shop with a Cop is a very important program for our department and law enforcement in general," said Doug Fannen, Marshfield Police Department Chief. "We 'police' are the ones that usually deal negatively with a lot of these kid's parents, so the kids only see us in that capacity, not always positive."

This event sees cops and kids in foster care gather to go on a mini shopping spree. Getting toys and items they always wanted with funding provided by donations from all over the community, including Michelle Slavens, donating on behalf of the late Tim Slavens, former Manager of the Marshfield Walmart SuperCenter.

"Shop with a Cop program, in my opinion, is so important because it lets the kids see the real officers' side," said Chief Fannen. "The kind side that smiles and laughs. The father or mother side of the officer, the soft-spoken side of the officer. It's the best thing we do all year, and all officers look forward to doing this. It's one of the few times a year that we all are able to get together as a department also."

MPD is working on another partnership with the community and old Saint Nick next year. They will still be doing Shop with a Cop, but they want to add a second program for underprivileged kids and families that might be struggling around the holidays.

On the Marshfield Police Department Facebook page, Santa will ask for help and tips from citizens on which kids have been good and where he needs to drop off his toys. From there, Santa will drive a police car to kids' houses with lights and sirens, followed by a large group of police cars and officers with their lights and sirens. Santa will drop off presents from his police car to kids in our community.

If readers want to donate to the new program or shop with a cop, they should contact the Marshfield Walmart SuperCenter at 417-468-6116.