Othello, ACSO, WSP officers bring holiday cheer
The 2024 Shop with a Cop event helped 10 children and their families this holiday season. Each child picked out toys, clothes and gifts for their other family members with funding from the Othello Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
The Othello Police Department, Othello Police Explorers, Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol did their annual Shop with a Cop event Saturday at the Othello Walmart. The children made their way from lunch to Walmart in police vehicles, lights flashing and sirens blaring. When they arrived at Walmart, the officers made several laps around the parking lot – with a crowd gathering outside the main doors.
After the police vehicles parked for the annual Shop with a Cop Walmart staff members welcomed the officers and shoppers at the front door clapping and cheering.
The Othello Police Department, Othello Police Explorers, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, shoppers and Walmart staff pose for a photo at the beginning of the annual shop with a cop event.
Yesania, one of the Shop with a Cop participants, tests out her final choice. Othello Police Department officer Martin Garza said she was pretty nervous but eventually she did tell them she wanted a bike and after careful deliberation she picked out a pink bike to match her jacket.
Yesania, one of the Shop with a Cop participants, tests out her final choice. Othello Police Department officer Martin Garza said she was pretty nervous but eventually she did tell them she wanted a bike and after careful deliberation she picked out a pink bike to match her jacket.
Officer Brock Denney and an Othello Police Explorer help their Shop with a Cop child pick out gifts for him and his family.
Deputy Levit and his assigned Adams County Sheriff’s Office Deputy begin their shopping journey. Levit picked out a bike, a dining table and chairs for his family and a variety of other little goods.
Jesus and two Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies discuss potential items to get with the remaining funds. Jesus alongside Levit (not pictured) decided a dining room table and chairs would be a good gift.
Othello Police Department officer Brock Denney checks out with a Walmart employee after the 2024 Shop with a Cop event. Denney and his shopping buddy picked out gifts for the boy and his family members Saturday.
Othello Police Department officer Fernando Lopez and Elisa load her presents into the police vehicle after completing the Shop with a Cop on Saturday.
OTHELLO – Blue and red lights flashed, and sirens blared down East Main Street in Othello on Saturday before turning into the Walmart parking lot. A handful of police vehicles from Othello Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol made laps around the store's parking lot, children waving through passenger windows and shoppers watching the scene go down.
The annual Shop with a Cop event had begun.
“I think it was fun, getting to learn about the kids and just trying to help them have a good time, shop for family members as well,” ASCO Deputy Oscar Munoz said. “It was really good. I liked getting to learn with them, eat with them and then see their smiles and stuff when they get a toy they have been wanting, and they are kind of surprised they are getting it. It was pretty awesome seeing them smile.”
The police vehicles parked and gathered all of the young shoppers before heading into the store. As they entered, Walmart employees greeted the officers and children with clapping and chanting. The group took a photo together before grabbing carts, receiving wrapped gifts from Walmart staff, then racing off to find the best gifts.
“I feel like it went great today,” OPD officer Fernando Lopez said. “We got all the gifts she wanted for her family and stuff for herself and even for her grandma. I believe every year is more successful than the last. I see the smiles are bigger every year.”
Shoppers headed for the toy aisles, clothes and make-up. This year's Shop with a Cop event helped around 10 local children and families – each of them nominated from local schools.
“My favorite part of this is the bond we build with the kids,” Lopez said. “I love seeing their smiles and their responses. They will never forget this experience.”
The children began picking out gifts – coloring books, bikes and matching helmets, dining room tables, lip gloss, fluffy stuffed animals, dolls and nice cookware such as a nice cooking pot were just some of the items the shoppers chose.
“I think it was really cool he got his goalie gloves and a new soccer ball,” Munoz said. “He loves soccer, so he is really excited about those. He was talking about those for a while.”
Darryl Barnes, a patrol sergeant from Adams County Sheriff’s Office has been doing the event for 10 years now and he said he looks forward to it every year.
“I just like helping the less fortunate,” Barnes said. “It is always a blessing for me to help out. I would love if more members of the community would give back every year. I just love being able to give to these kids.”
He said this year was particularly exciting because his shopper was from another country.
“I learned a lot about someone who is from a whole other country,” Barnes said. “I am very fortunate that they are here to grow up.”
Barnes said he was excited when his shopper picked out a brand-new bike.
“Merry Christmas to everybody and I hope he and his family have a good Christmas and they enjoyed the experience as much as I did,” Munoz said.
The Othello Police Department, Othello Police Explorers, Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol did their annual Shop with a Cop event Saturday at the Othello Walmart. The children made their way from lunch to Walmart in police vehicles, lights flashing and sirens blaring. When they arrived at Walmart, the officers made several laps around the parking lot – with a crowd gathering outside the main doors.
After the police vehicles parked for the annual Shop with a Cop Walmart staff members welcomed the officers and shoppers at the front door clapping and cheering.
The Othello Police Department, Othello Police Explorers, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, shoppers and Walmart staff pose for a photo at the beginning of the annual shop with a cop event.
Yesania, one of the Shop with a Cop participants, tests out her final choice. Othello Police Department officer Martin Garza said she was pretty nervous but eventually she did tell them she wanted a bike and after careful deliberation she picked out a pink bike to match her jacket.
Officer Brock Denney and an Othello Police Explorer help their Shop with a Cop child pick out gifts for him and his family.
Deputy Levit and his assigned Adams County Sheriff’s Office Deputy begin their shopping journey. Levit picked out a bike, a dining table and chairs for his family and a variety of other little goods.
Jesus and two Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies discuss potential items to get with the remaining funds. Jesus alongside Levit (not pictured) decided a dining room table and chairs would be a good gift.
Othello Police Department officer Brock Denney checks out with a Walmart employee after the 2024 Shop with a Cop event. Denney and his shopping buddy picked out gifts for the boy and his family members Saturday.
Othello Police Department officer Fernando Lopez and Elisa load her presents into the police vehicle after completing the Shop with a Cop on Saturday.