The toy aisles of Walmart were crowded with law enforcement of all sorts Saturday morning for the annual Shop with the Cops event.
The event is sponsored by the Montezuma-Cortez High School government class, and aims to help low-income families buy presents for their kids while also building trust with officers.
“The community gets together – law enforcement, schools – and just treats the kids to something extra,” said Jessica Marlman with the Colorado State Patrol.
This year, the crew gathered at J. Fargo’s for breakfast, before taking off in a blaring procession of patrol cars down the hill to Walmart.
“It’s a good way to pay it back to the community, and help out the youth,” said Steven King with the Cortez Police Department. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Helen Higgins was there to shop with the cops, alongside her daughter and granddaughter. She said she is excited to see the look on her granddaughter’s face when she opened her presents on Christmas.
“We’re very thankful for a lot of things in our family,” Higgins said.
Chris Kelley, who teaches the M-CHS government class, thanked all those involved in making the event happen: J-Fargo’s, participating law enforcement officers, Mark Drudge with the Cortez Retail Enhancement Association, Evalena Russell and the Salvation Army, and the government class.
ealvero@the-journal.com
