Blue lights and ear-to-ear smiles filled the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter last Friday evening as many area kids were given a brighter Christmas thanks to the Pine Bluff Fraternal Order of Police’s Fourth Annual Shop with a Cop event.
FOP Lodge No. 2, under the leadership of president and Police Department Sgt. Shanee Jackson, and vice president and Police Department Lt. DeShawn Bennett, hosted and sponsored the event, which served 24 grade-school children ages 5 to 8 from across the community.
“On behalf of the Pine Bluff Fraternal Order of Police (Lodge No. 2), thank you for standing with us, believing in our mission and helping us make a difference — one child, one smile and one moment at a time,” Bennett said.
Children were selected by school principals and counselors from MeMe’s Learning Academy (four children), James Matthews Elementary (five children), Broadmoor Elementary (five children), Coleman Elementary (five children) and Friendship Aspire Academy (five children).
“This event would not have been possible without the incredible support of our community partners and members of the Pine Bluff Police Department who believe in investing in our youth,” according to a news release. “Shop with a Cop is more than a single day — it’s about building trust, creating lasting memories and showing our children that they are seen, valued and supported.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
After the Shop With A Cop event ended Friday night, the children and their families returned to the Detective Kevin Collins Training Center for a pizza party and bicycle giveaway.
And one lucky princess, 5-year-old Niylah Jacobs, won a massive power ride-on toy in the raffle sponsored by Bennett and family.
“Seeing the children’s faces light up with Christmas cheer made everyone’s night,” Police Department Public Information Specialist John Worthen said. “This is what it’s all about. We are so appreciative to all of our officers and volunteers who helped with this event.”
Sponsors for Shop with a Cop include Walmart Supercenter, Saracen Casino Resort, Pine Bluff Police Department Service Division, Day-Shift, Swing-Shift and Graveyard-Shift Patrol Division, Delta Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Gamma Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Watson Chapel Baptist Church, Domino’s Pizza, Pine Bluff police office manager Bonnie Butler, Stephanie and Todd Howard, and Constable DeShawn Bennett and family (AnSheka and Asia Bennett).
