Without the generosity of others, some children may go without a Christmas.
Members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 149 annually do their part to make sure that doesn’t happen with their “Christmas with a Cop” program. At Meijer Tuesday evening for about four hours, they helped 13 dozen boys and girls shop for clothes, shoes, coats and even a toy or two.
Officers represented Indiana State Police, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, Warsaw Police Department and the smaller departments like Pierceton, Milford, Claypool and Silver Lake.
FOP Lodge 149 Vice President and WPD Det. Paul Heaton said the Lodge has had the event ever since he’s been a member of the FOP.
“Every year it’s gotten bigger. Like this year we’ll be able to help about 160 kids, roughly,” he said. “Kids from all over Kosciusko County.”
Heaton said they try to do half clothing and half gifts. The amount spent per child is predetermined and depends on donations.
“This year it was really good, so we’re able to help a lot more kids,” Heaton said.
Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes said the program “allows police officers to interact with children in a positive manner and have fun and allows us to get a chance to know them and for them to get to know us. It’s just that positivity.”
He said law enforcement has just as much fun at the Christmas with a Cop as the kids.
Heaton said money for the program comes from donations and a golf fundraiser the FOP does in the fall.
For a child to participate in the program, he said applications are provided to all the schools in the county and the school resource officers.
“Thank you for all the sponsors that help make this event possible for all of us. It’s nice to give law enforcement a good light to give back to the community,” Heaton said.
