Over 100 officers to join local kids for annual Shop with a Cop event

Park City kids will join in on the annual Shop With A Cop to make their seasons bright. Photo: Kris Olsen

PARK CITY, Utah — If you see over a hundred police cars, sirens blaring, rushing down State Route 224 on Saturday morning, don’t be concerned. It’s just the annual Shop with a Cop tradition.

“Rest assured, there’s no emergency,” said Sgt. Skyler Talbot with Summit County Sheriff’s Office. “We’re just having a good time.”

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Park City Police Department team up each year for Shop with a Cop, which benefits children from low-income families in the community.

The morning begins with breakfast at the DoubleTree Hotel in Park City, followed by a police escort to Walmart in Kimball Junction.

The police cars should be going up SR 224 between 8 and 8:30 a.m., according to Talbot. Drivers on the road can pull over to the side to watch the cars go by, or continue driving along the road.

This year, over 100 officers will accompany 65 kids through the store to shop for Christmas gifts. While kids get to choose much of what goes in the cart, officers also receive lists from parents outlining specific needs in their families, said Talbot.

There will also be about 20 other families who will get a turkey dinner and Walmart gift card but who we are not able to physically attend due to logistics.

“We take community engagement very seriously,” said Talbot. The event allows the officers to engage with the community on a level outside of general law enforcement, and provides kids with a positive experience with police officers. “This really gives us an opportunity to meet the kids, engage with them in this incredibly positive atmosphere. It does a lot for community relations, and our deputies love it,” said Talbot.