Quincy Shop with a Cop pairs families with officers

QUINCY — Ten Quincy families will have a brighter Christmas through the Quincy Police Department’s Shop with a Cop event Dec. 6. 

“Seeing how excited the kids get and how thankful the families are, it’s awesome,” said QPD Ofc. Danya Mercado, who organized the event with Ofc. Jessica Diaz.  

Mercado wasn’t sure how many officers had taken part, but she said the department usually pairs up one officer per family. She was one of the officers who went, she said. 

“We also had our clerks who helped,” she said. “And the animal shelter staff also came out and helped us.” 

This is the first year that Mercado and Diaz have coordinated Shop with a Cop, she said. The two of them reached out to school counselors to identify families who could benefit. 

“Then once we have a list, we have a little meeting between us and see like which families we're able to help,” she said. Those families who weren’t selected were referred to another agency that helps families at Christmas time, she added. 

The shopping was done at Target in Wenatchee, Mercado said. It’s common for children to want everything they see in the toy aisle, but Mercado said her shopping partners were a little less self-focused. 

“A lot of kids, they like to get stuff that they need for the family,” she said. “Part of what we provide them is an essential basket where we get theme household items. The kiddos, though, they usually like to go and find stuff for Mom and Dad, or they'll try to focus more on like what their siblings want, and then they'll just pick a couple items for themselves.” 

Events like Shop with a Cop help soften the image of police for the children and their parents, Mercado said. 

“I know (for) myself growing up, law enforcement isn't always something you see in a positive way,” she said. “So being able to help families, it helps build the trust with law enforcement, showing that we actually care. We want to help them in any way we can.” 

    QPD officer Mark Gomez and his shopping partner prepares to set out on a quest for toys.
  

    The families who went on Quincy PD’s Shop with a Cop were nominated by local school counselors, according to organizer Ofc. Danya Mercado.