Shop With a Cop pairs officers, kids

Monday, July 31, 2017
Helping one local youngster get a leg up on his back-to-school wardrobe, Greencastle Police Officer Zach Rhine helps the boy try on shoes during the recent Shop-With-a-Cop effort at the Walmart store.
Courtesy photo

Conducting its 19th consecutive Shop-With-A-Cop program in Greencastle recently, the Putnam County Fraternal Order of Police assisted some 33 children who participated in this year’s back-to-school event.

Students from all four school districts were summoned by project coordinator Tara Baugh with recommendations from the school’s counselors. Carts full of school supplies and clothes lined the Walmart Superstore aisles for a couple of hours.

Twenty-five FOP members from the Greencastle Police Department, Indiana Excise Police, Danville Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, Bainbridge Police, Cloverdale Police, DePauw Public Safety and West Lafayette Police participated in the shopping effort.

School supplies are on the list as Greencastle Police Officer Darrel Bunten helps one local boy get his essentials ready for a return to classes.
Courtesy photo

Putnam County FOP President Jerrod Baugh is grateful to all who helped.

“This is our keystone event each year,” Baugh said, “and the officers show up after long night shifts and slide in between calls for service each year. Without the community’s support each summer this event would never happen and we know it.”

Several officers who have taken jobs outside of Putnam County still return each year to help with the program.

“It gets in your blood a bit,” Baugh said. “You mark it on calendar, and have one of those good days.”

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