Cops and Kids at Christmas a success in first year

In a season of giving, local law enforcement agencies have helped give back in a big way.

The inaugural Cops and Kids at Christmas event took place at Chester Wal-Mart on Dec. 17 and featured officers from Chester, Red Bud and Steeleville police departments - and deputies from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office - shopping for Christmas gifts with less fortunate children in the area.

A variety of organizations and individuals donated to the cause, which allowed 80 children to be helped. Each of the agencies involved selected, through an application process, 20 children from each of their respective areas.

"We had a group reach out to us," said Randolph County Sheriff Shannon Wolff. "It was actually a trapshooting group and they wanted to donate some money to a cause for the police, and we've always wanted to start a Cops and Kids Christmas program, just never had the funding and (the donation) kind of pushed us to go ahead and start it."

Wolff said he contacted the other law enforcement agencies involved and things progressed from there. The Sparta Police Department conducts its own "Shop with a Cop" event.

"We wanted to see what funding we had," Wolff said, when asked if 80 children was the goal. "We didn't want to do $20 a kid, so we wanted to something significant for each child."

There was a limit of $150 per child and the event was also intended to help promote positive interaction between police and the public.

"It's another opportunity for us to participate with the public in a manner that allows us to not be in an enforcement situation," said Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey. "A lot of times, with certain families, they only see us in an enforcement situation.

"And they don't get to see us in situations like these, where we are just like ordinary people."

Steeleville Interim Police Chief Jim Zeidler was asked his thoughts on the event.

"It's nothing but joy," he said. "The kids get to walk around, get whatever they want no questions asked. They just put it in the cart, that's pretty awesome."

Chester Wal-Mart and Casey's General Store donated pizza, donuts and drinks for shoppers.

"We worked with the sheriff, and the team of officers that he has, to provide the best shopping experience possible," said Dave Avery, Chester Wal-Mart manager.

Wolff noted organizers hope to make Cops and Kids at Christmas an annual event. Those interested in making a donation can make a check payable to one of the law enforcement agencies mentioned in this article in care of "Cops and Kids at Christmas."

Arrangements can also be made to pick up donations.