The Grand Junction Police Department (GJPD) is excited to announce the 32nd annual Shop with a Cop event, a cherished tradition that brings together local law enforcement officers and students for a day of holiday shopping and fun.
On Tuesday, December 10, and Thursday, December 12, law enforcement officers from the Colorado State Patrol, Fruita Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), and Mesa County School District 51 will join the Grand Junction Police Department for its 32nd annual Shop with a Cop event! This year, law enforcement officers from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and De Beque Marshal’s Department will also participate in the event. This initiative not only spreads holiday cheer but also fosters positive relationships between law enforcement officers and the community.
The Grand Junction Police Department started the Shop with a Cop program in 1992 and included Grand Junction Police officers who escorted seven children in a day of shopping and ended with a trip to the movie theater. For over three decades, the GJPD Shop with a Cop event has grown, providing countless area students with an unforgettable holiday experience. The Shop with a Cop program is a needs-based program, pairing over 50 Mesa County fifth graders with law enforcement officers for a day of shopping, food, and fun. The kids and officers eat breakfast donated by McDonald’s, shop for gifts and essentials for family members at Rimrock Walmart and Mesa Mall, eat lunch donated by Chick Fil A, and pick up their purchased gifts lovingly wrapped by volunteers who partner with the Grand Junction Police Department. The Shop with a Cop program is fully funded by donations, and thanks to the generosity and support of Back the Badge, Moose 92.3 FM, Mesa County Crime Stoppers, Rimrock Walmart, Mesa Mall, the GJPD and MCSO Fraternal Orders of Police organizations, the Grand Junction Fire Association, Foresight Village Apartments, Toyota, and countless community members and businesses, these kids will enjoy a memorable holiday.
Shop with a Cop is a heartwarming and beloved event for the Grand Junction Police Department. The Grand Junction Police Department is grateful for the participation of partnering law enforcement agencies and volunteers, and the abundance of generosity and support from the community to make this one of the happiest holidays possible for so many children and families.