The Douglas County School System Police Department hosted its annual Shop with a Cop event 
on Monday, bringing holiday joy to 73 students in the school system.
Generous donations from sponsors provided each student with $225 to shop for items on their Christmas wish lists at Walmart, with local law enforcement agencies and school system volunteers lending a helping hand to make the experience extra special.
DCSSPD Chief of Police Walter Williams said this is the fifth year his department has hosted the event. School counselors helped select two students from each Douglas County School System elementary and middle school as well as students from the Program for Exceptional Children (PEC), Learning & Early Assessment for Preschoolers (LEAP) program and Brighten Academy to participate.
Williams said Shop with a Cop is extremely personal to him because he experienced some hardships when he was that age.
“It's a good event to bring police and the youth together and also to help the families that are in need,” he said.
School Resource Officer John Jackson helps Williams organize the event every year, working
with the school counselors, the DCSS Department of Transportation and others to make the event a success.
“It's a tough time of year for a lot of families,” Jackson said. “So, just to be able to do something to help them—it's always something special when we can give back and create those bonds.”
In addition to the shopping spree, students taking part also received a special “Shop with a Cop” T-shirt featuring a red Santa suit designed by SRO Alyssa Jackson.
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