Shop With a Cop set for early December in MH, other local communities

Photo: Officers participating in the Mountain Home Police Department’s “No Shave November/December” fundraiser for Shop With a Cop.

The Mountain Home Police Department’s (MHPD) annual Shop With a Cop returns this year with a new feature — “No Shave November/December.” KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news sat down with Chief of Police Eddie Griffin and Lt. Eddie Helmert to find out more.

Lt. Helmert says the Shop With a Cop event started small but continues to grow with support from the community.

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Shop with a Cop is not just for MHPD. Lt. Helmert explains there is a process for nominating families, and other departments are involved with the event.

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Lt. Helmert says that no one is excluded from the program, if the family is picked to participate.

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Lt. Helmert says some of the kids in the program would use this time to buy food or gifts for their families instead of purchasing gifts for themselves. So for the last five years MHPD has partnered with the members of the Junior Auxiliary (JA).

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The JAs also help wrap presents for the children, if they do find something for their family members.

Chief Griffin says this year the event has a new feature in response to officers expressing a desire to grow a beard. As a general rule, law enforcement officers are not allowed to have facial hair, minus a mustache.

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Chief Griffin says the “No Shave November/December” event had a decent amount of participation.

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Both Chief Griffin and Lt. Helmert said they felt Shop With a Cop is a great experience for the children and heartwarming to see the impact this program has on families. The Shop With a Cop program will take place in early December.

In Fulton County, Sheriff Al Roork, other law enforcement officers and community leaders are getting ready for the Fifth Annual Shop With a Cop Program.

The Saddle Baptist Church started an ongoing monthly donation to the fund in 2016. Community organizations and individuals are encouraged to donate funds for this year’s shopping event.

Businesses, organizations and individuals can drop off donations at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Donations may also be mailed to Shop With a Cop, Post Office Box 436, Salem AR 72576.

For more information on the program, contact the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at (870) 895-2601.

Other area Shop With a Cop events include:

Bull Shoals

Howell County

Marion County

Stone County

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