News Photo by Crystal Nelson Alpena Police Department Officer Terri Curtis, Jazzmin Armstrong and Rosabella Wyman take a second to look over a shopping list during Alpena Police Department’s annual Shop with a Cop event on Friday at Walmart.

ALPENA — Kids and cops teamed up to tackle some much anticipated Christmas shopping on Saturday at Walmart.

The event was part of the Alpena Police Department’s 16th annual “Shop with a Cop,” where police from several law enforcement agencies help a small group of children pick out gifts for their families and themselves. Each child received a $100 gift card from Santa Claus to purchase the presents.

Jazzmin Armstrong and Rosabella Wyman, both 7-year-olds, made a beeline for the dolls that looked like Anna and Elsa – characters from Disney’s animated film Frozen – while APD Officer Terri Curtis helped them choose the most affordable versions of the dolls. Police officers, and accompanying Drug Abuse Resistance Education program role models, kept track of each child’s budget.

“I just like shopping around,” Armstrong said, casually, of what she liked best about shopping with a police officer.

Wyman said shopping was “fun,” and that she was shopping for gifts for her parents as well as herself.

A total of 12 children participated in this year’s Shop with a Cop, according to Officer Tim Marquardt, and were recommended to participate in the event by the Alpena County Department of Human Services.

“Year after year they try to find families – whether it’s their financial situation, whether it’s their family situation – that meet their criteria and take advantage of this event,” Marquardt said of DHS’ involvement in the program.”

Kaitlynn McNamara, a foster care worker with DHS, said for many of the kids, the event is the only opportunity to have positive experiences with a police officer. She said being able to interact with a police officer in this kind of a setting is an unusual, but great experience for them to have.

Marquardt said although APD organizes the program, there was representation from all of the local law enforcement agencies including the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office, the Michigan State Police Alpena Post and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center’s security forces.

Marquardt said he is grateful to Walmart, who began hosting the event after KMart closed, as well as the local credit unions that purchased the gift cards for the kids. He said five area credit unions provided funds this year.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.