County's Shop with a Cop brightens Christmas for the kids

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office ninth annual Shop with a Cop events saw continued tremendous support in helping make Christmas a merry one for the kids. 

Former Lincoln County Undersheriff Brad Dodson kicked it off for Libby in 2013. 

A small team of people from town came together and put the event together. 

"It was a hard start up at first but after a while took off like crazy for this time of year," organizer Loni Harmon said. "I am so, so thankful for the community with how they step up every year."

Harmon talked about how one of the messages that Shop with a Cop tries to spread is to help show children that there is just as much joy in giving as receiving. It is a great way to help show children about sharing and thinking of others.

It also helps kids see what law enforcement is like in a kid friendly environment where law officers are not intimidating. This helps open the door into being able to talk to them, ask questions and get to know them and why their rolls in the community are so important.

There are so many groups and organizations who volunteer to help make this fun event as steady and smooth as it is today. The Zero to Five Initiative in Lincoln County set up a whole section at the facility with games and activities for the kids to do while the presents were being wrapped.

The Libby Assembly of God Church donated their facility for gift wrapping. Church members also brought their youth group to play and talk to the kids as well.
Of course, officers from the county, Libby Police Department, Libby Volunteer Fire Department, Libby Volunteer Ambulance, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Troy Police Department.

And none of it happens without the dozens of business sponsors who donate to the cause so kids can enjoy looking for presents.

Harmon shared two of her favorite memories that have always stayed with her through the years. The first was back when organization was first starting in Libby.

There was an officer who was known to be good at his job but more of a serious kind of man. Harmon described him as a "no nonsense kind of guy." It was his first time taking a child with him in his patrol vehicle.

Harmon said she thought it was going to turn out OK but was not expecting what ended up happening. Once the officer started talking to the child the officer completely let his guard down and completely opened up with the kid. He was laughing, making jokes and was just having fun with the child. 

At one point after they had been shopping around getting gifts for the family the child had an eye on a toy they had spotted but didn't have enough to get it for himself. After dropping the child off, the officer went back to the store and bought the toy with his own money. 

He then went and had it wrapped and gave the present to the kid. Harmon stated, "It was so awesome seeing him down on his knees playing and interacting with the child."

Harmon's second memory occurred in her second year of taking a child with her. The child was very quiet, sitting on a bench, and could hardly get out his name, just an overall shy child. 

Harmon was trying to talk with the child, trying to get him to open up. She asked where he wanted to go or what he was thinking of buying, but the child was very quiet.

They had been to three or four stores with no luck, then they decided to go to a store called 'Rivers Mist.' Harmon said, "This is kind of a mom store most of it is cooking supplies and home decor, but we can go in and see."

The child found a pink candle and his face immediately light up saying, "My mom loves the color pink." 

They ended up finding a bunch of pink items for this mother and took it to the wrapping place. They put everything in a big basket and wrapped it up and laid a big pink necklace on top of it. The child was so excited to give it to his mother that when they took him back home he jumped out of the car ran inside yelling about his present to his mother. The child completely opened up during the experience.

"I'll keep doing this as long as I am able to and with the community's help and participation, this will be a long standing organization in Libby."

    John and Jennifer Davis took Micah and Cedar Christmas shopping at the stores on Mineral Avenue in Libby during the annual Shop with a Cop event on Dec. 14 in Lincoln County. (Hannah Chumley/The Western News)
  

    Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short enjoyed helping Emmitt Whitaker and Quinn Bryant shop for Christmas presents during the annual Shop with a Cop event in Libby on Dec. 14. (Hannah Chumley/The Western News)
  

    Lincoln County Sheriff's officers Taylor Stensland and Cody DeWitt shopped with Isabella and Sophia in one of the stores on Mineral Avenue in Libby during the annual Shop with a Cop event on Dec. 14. (Hannah Chumley/The Western News)