Cops shop with kids in need

Photo by Bill Green
Frederick County Sheriff’s Dfc. James Harris and Tyler
Hartley, a fourth-grader at Middletown Elementary
School, look over a selection of video games at the second
annual “Shop with a Cop” event Saturday morning at Wal-Mart.


By Nicholas C. Stern News-Post Staff
Photo by Bill Green



Armed with calculators and a generous spirit, local police hope to spread some holiday cheer this Christmas to less-advantagedchildren.
As part of the second annual "Shop with a Cop" event Saturday, officers from the Frederick Police Department, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police and the Brunswick City Police Department took 11 children from Frederick County shopping.
The officers picked up the children at their homes and brought them to Wal-Mart on Monocacy Boulevard.
Each child had a $100 gift certificate, provided by the Optimist Club of Frederick and Braddock Heights/Middletown, to buy presents for family members. After the officers helped them with their budgeting, the children received an extra $20 to buy something for themselves.
Frederick Police Department officer Samantha Crane said she was impressed that the children were choosing practical gifts, such as sweatpants and pajamas.
"Grown-ups could use stuff too," Crane said.
Officer Chris Stafford, of the Brunswick City Police Department, helped the children with their choices. This is the second time he has taken part in the "Shop with a Cop" event.
Stafford said he hoped this type of positive interaction between police and children would help establish a bond that will last.
While shopping, a 9-year-old boy from Myersville slid the sleeve of a winter coat between his fingers, deciding whether to get it for his sister. With several other people on his list, the $40 price tag was too high, so he chose a blue shirt instead.
"I think she's really going to like it," he said, beaming.
Maryland State Police trooper Beth Demory said she thought the event waswonderful.
"You see so many bad things, it's nice to see something good," Demory said.