The holiday season can be a time of joy and togetherness, but for some families and children, it can also bring challenges. To spread cheer and ensure every child feels special, West Chester’s Kids ’N Cops program—part of a national initiative by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)—works to make a difference. Each year, officers from the West Chester Police Department team up with children from local schools for a special shopping event, helping them feel cherished during the Christmas season while strengthening community bonds.
SRO Jeff Newman, a 34-year veteran, and the current school resource officer at Lakota West High School, explains how the Kids ’N Cops program works.
“The event is held at our local Meijer on Tylersville Road,” he says. “Families and children are chosen by school counselors and principals from Lakota Local Schools based on need. I contact each family personally to let them know about it.”
Kids ’N Cops, believed to have started at WCPD by the recently passed Sergeant John Hunkler more than 25 years ago, has grown significantly with the help of local officers and organizations such as the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #186. Initially funded by the FOP, the event expanded when Meijer Corporation adopted it as a nationwide community outreach initiative at all their local stores.
On the evening of the event, officers volunteer to pair up one-on-one with 25 to 30 children, filling the aisles with laughter and warm conversation as each officer helps their child pick out gifts and essentials with their individual budget.
“We make it easy for the kids,” Newman says. “Before the event, I ask parents to help their children create a wish list to ensure shopping is focused, but it’s not unusual for officers and kids to get caught up chatting and having fun.”
Newman shares that most buy toys and electronics, but some kids buy clothes or shoes. Parents, who wait for them inside the store, then take the gifts to their cars. Some officers have gone the extra mile and even bought gifts for the entire family.
Meijer Corporation covers the cost of the gifts, while the West Chester Citizen Police Academy volunteers collect food donations from local restaurants to serve dinner for the families and officers after shopping. These relationships built between officers and families often extend far beyond the holiday season. Newman recalls many former Kids ’N Cops participants approaching him years later at Lakota West High School, remembering the special bond formed during the event.
Though the event is primarily supported by Meijer and local volunteers, community members interested in getting involved are encouraged to attend the West Chester Citizen's Police Academy. For reasons of safety and privacy, only those who have completed the academy are invited to volunteer and assist with events. WestChesterOH.org