Third Shop With A Cop Planned

When Master Trooper Kelly Osborne, community service/public information officer with Pennsylvania State Police Troop J - Lancaster, organized the first Shop With a Cop, the idea was to foster good relationships between children and local law enforcement officers. Now, as she prepares to hold the third such event, Osborne has witnessed the results of her efforts. "You see a difference from the time a child is dropped off by a parent or guardian in the morning, when they may be unsure or nervous, to when the parents pick them up," she said, noting when the children prepare to go home, they are often laughing and hugging their assigned cop. "In those couple hours, the bond that is made between the officer and the child is amazing," said Osborne.

The third Shop With a Cop will be held at Lafayette Fire Company on Saturday, Dec. 3. Osborne hopes to pair at least 30 children in the countywide program with volunteer state police troopers, officers from East Lampeter Township Police Department, and officers from the SPCA and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Osborne is specifically looking to include children who have been the victim of a crime or involved in another unfortunate circumstance where police contact would benefit them. Those who wish to nominate a child for the program may visit http://campcadetoflancastercounty.com/shop-with-a-cop. Links to sponsor a child are located on that website as well. Nomination forms for children to participate must be completed by Wednesday, Nov. 30.

The elementary-age children and officers whom Osborne has paired up will travel together to Kohl's on Lincoln Highway to shop. Each child will receive a $150 gift card to Kohl's, so students may shop for family members. Prepared with lists of possible gifts, the students and officers will shop and then returned to the station, where the officers will help wrap the gifts. Each student will also receive a bag lunch before being picked up.

Osborne has also created a "Troop J Lancaster Shop With a Cop" Facebook page, where she posts photos, updates, and other information about the event. "I receive a lot of feedback from parents and grandparents in the form of emails or Facebook messages," she said, noting most of the correspondence expresses gratitude and shares that a child loved being part of the program. "It makes the kids feel empowered to provide gifts for their family members," said Osborne. "You think it's just for the children, but it benefits the whole family."