ASU officers take youth shopping

Area law enforcement officers and rescue personnel gathered at Super Wal-Mart in Evans for the annual Shop With A Cop program at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20.

Two Augusta State University officers participated this year, officer Jeff Tilley and Capt. Ted McNeal. The two were paired with two boys from Evans.

"It's cool, they are nice guys," said Dylan White, 7. "I've never went shopping with a cop before. It was fun." Dylan and his brother Dalton, 8, bought clothes and a few toys, and a sweater and purse as gifts for their mother.

The national program pairs area officers with children; to not only brighten the children’s holidays, but to build relations between youth and the police. Nearly 40 children participated in the program this year.

“A lot of times, the only interactions some of these kids have with officers is in a negative way,” said Jasper Cooke, chief of public safety at Augusta State University. “This is a way to promote positive law enforcement interaction with the kids.”

This is the seventh year for the program locally. Children are allowed to select $150 of merchandise for themselves or as gifts for family members. Funding for the program comes from donations by area businesses to the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as from Wal-Mart.

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