Shop With a Cop is a program designed to foster positive relationships between youth and officers while supporting families in our community who are in need during a season where all should experience some joy.  

Youth (K – Grade 5) are nominated and selected each year just prior to the holiday season to shop at one of the local area stores to purchase gifts for themselves as well as gifts for members of their immediate family.  Each child is provided with a predetermined amount of shopping money which is set based on the size of the child's immediate family and funding availability.  During the shopping trip, a police officer escorts the children around the store and assists them in selecting appropriate gifts.  After shopping, the children will eat lunch, wrap their gifts, and continue to get to know the police officers.

The foundation of any successful police department begins with community relations.  In today’s environment, some communities are experiencing severely strained relationships between citizens and the police department. Creedmoor is very fortunate to have strong community interaction and support across the city; however, this is not by sheer luck. The interaction and support we enjoy today is the result of several years of community outreach through efforts such as National Night Out on Crime, Citizen’s Police Academies, Open Gym Nights, First Fridays in Creedmoor, Main Street Trick or Treating, and countless other city-lead events. Shop with a Cop is merely one more way our city and our police department demonstrate our belief in “Early and Often” interaction with our community, and most especially, with our youth.

History and Funding
Funds received through the annual police calendar sales and donations from the city's annual Christmas parade entries are allocated for the Shop with a Cop program.  In addition, the police department seeks corporate sponsorships throughout the year and has established a donation site for program donations.  All program operations are accomplished through staff and community volunteers.

Nomination and Selection
Beginning on October 1 and continuing through October 31, the Creedmoor Police Department requests nominations from each faith-based leader in the community and local public schools.  As the program becomes better established, the police department intends to expand the nomination process to include nominations submitted by the general public.  Acceptance of proposed nominations is contingent on funding availability. Nominees will be selected and notification made to families by November 30 with additional information regarding the shopping date, etc.

Contact
Officer Jessica Laws
(919) 764-1057