The Laramie Police Department is thrilled to once again host Shop with a Cop on December 19^th. Aimed at spreading holiday cheer and joy, Shop with a Cop is the Laramie Police Department’s way of engaging with the community, supporting Laramie’s youth, and ensuring the holidays are merry and bright for all.

You might be wondering, how are children selected to shop with LPD? The Laramie Police Department Foundation partners with Albany County School District and school counselors to select 30 kids, who are then paired with 30 officers from LPD, the Albany County Sheriff’s office, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Laramie Game and Fish office, and the University Wyoming Police Department. On December 19^th, the officers will pick their designated kid up from school and head to Wal-Mart. Equipped with $150 to spend, each kid and their partnered officer hit the toy aisles.  

Shop With a Cop is a truly authentic and inspiring experience for the kids and officers involved. The time spent shopping is filled with meaningful conversations and genuine laughter. Not to mention, kids get to take a ride in a patrol car to Wal-Mart.

“Shop With a Cop is such a fun experience. We understand as law enforcement that when we get a call, it’s usually not a good day for anybody – but Shop with a Cop changes the narrative for the day. Our officers get to go out and have conversations and laughs with these kids. We genuinely all want to be part of such a positive experience with the kids,” says LPD Sergeant Craig Lenhardt.

To bring even more holiday spirit, Wyoming Hunger Initiative donates funds through the Laramie Police Department Foundation which then partners with Wal-Mart to provide a Christmas meal for all 30 kids and their families. The Laramie Hilton Garden Inn also donates 30 hams for each Christmas meal. Truly, a win-win for all involved!

“Everybody helps make the holidays for these kids amazing. Between the Hilton, School District, Wyoming Hunger Initiative, Laramie Police Department Foundation, and Wal-Mart – who also donated $2,500 for Shop with a Cop – this truly becomes a community effort to create a meaningful Christmas for these kids,” says Sergeant Lenhardt.