Shop with a Cop

I love this program, they have it in many cities, I don't know if they have it back home in Walla Walla, but here in Rexburg it's pretty well known with many of my clients. Right now i'm workin dispatch and i'm listening, its 6am, and officers have been signing on since 5:30 a.m. to take kids, who's families really struggle, to go shopping for Christmas with money that has been raised and donated for this event. My clients that have gone have LOVED this holiday program. They felt really special to be shopping with a police officer. It's great to see what light it sheds on the officers to the kids, they know that they don't have to fear them. There is an interesting perception about Cops. A lot of people first think - well - this Cop thinks they're a.....jerk...for lack of an appropriate term. Or - they don't really care about people - or they just like to have power. Unfortunately - for some cops - as for anyone with any power position in ANY job (helping people or not) - that can be true. But for the majority of the time - the MAJOR majority of officers I have worked with and encountered, they're just dudes and gals like you and me. Just with a job to do. The shop with a cop program helps the kids to see that. They don't have to be intimidating. They're friendly. Sometimes I think if kids don't have to fear something, they wont fight it - or even challenge it as much. When you fear something - its usually because you don't understand it, or know whats behind it. Adults, role models, movies, TV, teach us what we "should" fear. Its cool to see when kids learn what is behind that fear, if its the thing itself that they're scared of, or if it is what comes of it that scares them. This opportunity to go shopping with a police officer just gives them another view - a new perception of police work - and the men and women in the uniforms. Its just so cool to know that this happens.