Shop with a Cop brings warmth to a snowy morning

A steady snowfall set the tone early Saturday as officers, volunteers and families gathered for the annual Shop with a Cop event.

More than 50 children paired up with officers from the Park City Police Department, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Utah Highway Patrol, the Division of Natural Resources, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and other participating agencies for a 7 a.m. breakfast at The Yarrow, DoubleTree by Hilton, before climbing into patrol vehicles for a lights-and-sirens caravan down SR-224.

Two officers on horseback met the caravan at the Ute Landmark roundabout, guiding the patrol vehicles the rest of the way into the Walmart parking lot. They remained mounted near the entrance, ready to pose for a picture with anyone willing to brave the flurries of snow before heading into the store.

Inside, volunteers lined both sides of the walkway, offering a warm welcome to the young shoppers and their assigned officers.

Making their way through the store, kids picked out the items at the top of their Christmas lists — toys, clothes, kitchen gadgets, a bike and everything in between. Each child had a set budget, and their accompanying officer helped them stick to it while helping them search for the things they hoped to find. Many chose gifts not only for themselves, but also for siblings and other family members.

The event, which has run for decades, has become a tradition that Sgt. Kacey Comer of the Park City Police Department said requires a lot of attention beyond their regular duties.

“This isn’t just a one-day event — it’s something we work on all year,” he said. “There’s a ton of work and a lot of moving parts.”

Comer plays a central role in organizing Shop with a Cop through his work with the Fraternal Order of Police, where he serves as president of the local board. He has been involved with the program for 15 years and now oversees the coordination that brings officers, families and volunteers together each December. 

Working alongside the FOP’s vice president, secretary and treasurer, he helps manage the many moving parts needed to support families throughout the year and ensure the event comes together smoothly.

“This year we’ve had phenomenal participation, and that’s really because the program has become more visible,” Comer said. “When you get on the phone and remind people, they show up. A lot of agencies come back year after year, and that reflects how much this program has grown.”

Children are selected for the program through referrals from school counselors, who interact with students daily and can identify those who would benefit most from the support. Officers also recommend families throughout the year when they encounter situations where a child or household could use extra help. 

Comer said he asks officers to collect information during those interactions and pass it along so the FOP board can review the cases and determine how to assist. Together, these school-based referrals and officer observations help shape the final group of children invited to participate each year.

The number of participants this year reflects an intentional effort to keep the kid-to-officer ratio manageable, said Comer, so that every child gets one-on-one time needed for a smooth and memorable experience. 

While 50-60 kids attended the main event, the FOP expects the total number of children helped this holiday season to surpass 100 once additional gift cards and family assistance are distributed.

This year has been a strong one for fundraising, Comer said. The event runs almost entirely on donations, and increased awareness has helped the FOP expand the number of children it can support. 

Over the past 12 years, a significant portion of the event’s funding has been raised through Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties totaling more than $250,000, said Kevin Larsen, executive vice president of Wasatch Back operations for the brokerage.

Larsen said agents, staff and ownership collectively support the program, with annual fundraising efforts organized by Ramon Gomez, Jr. This year alone, more than $35,000 was raised and donated to the FOP to fund the event.

In addition to the financial support the event receives, Comer said the officers who show up each year, along with community members who volunteer their time, are a crucial part of the program.

For three year volunteer Mia Perez, giving back at Shop with a Cop comes from her own family’s experience. She said her children have benefited from the program in the past, and volunteering has become a way to show them the importance of giving back and having compassion for their community. 

“This is a huge opportunity for the kids to choose what they want and not worry about whether they’re going to have Christmas gifts this year. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful,” she said.

This year, Perez’ niece and all three of her children volunteered as translators, while officers guided families through the store.

As a single mother, she described how meaningful the support once was for her own kids. 

“It has helped us a lot,” she said. “It’s amazing to feel cherished and appreciated from, you know, the community.”

Perez said she encourages families who have the opportunity to participate. She believes the experience leaves children with memories they carry for life, especially the rare chance to sit in a patrol car, turn on the lights, use the intercom, and feel safe in a positive interaction with law enforcement. 

Speaking from her experience as a Latina, she said many families feel hesitant around authority, and events like this help ease that fear and create an opportunity to build trust. To her, the experience is simple but lasting.

Participating in the event is also one of the most rewarding moments of the season for Walmart employees, said Yeimy McMullen, an assistant manager at the store. She and her team come in early to set up tables, organize the front end, and make sure cashiers are ready to move families smoothly through the checkout process.

She said that being able to support the volunteers and officers who accompany the children is meaningful. 

“As much as you want to help as an individual, you can only do so much,” she said. “It’s really rewarding seeing how we’re able to help the community.”

This year was the first that the local Starbucks took part in the event, said longtime employee Amy Marshall, who was handing out cake pops and hot chocolate to children as they exited the gift-wrapping line. 

Marshall said she learned about the program from the many officers who stop into the store early in the morning. She said the team wanted to bring a bit of the Starbucks experience to the event, so they decorated cups with small drawings and used them to serve hot chocolate to the kids.

Community members who want to support the program can donate at the Park City Police Department, where contributions can be directed to the FOP’s Shop with a Cop fund.