On Sunday 12/15, the Blue Lake Rancheria (BLR) Tribal Police Department (TPD) as well as first responders from around the county met at the Wharfinger in Eureka to participate in the 12th annual Shop with a Cop. After arriving at the Wharfinger, responders were paired with children to take on a holiday shopping trip. After being paired up, children and first responders got to enjoy some breakfast and chat. McDonald’s provided breakfast to all of the first responders, children, and families.
Police and first response vehicles then drove down to Target in a caravan, honking horns and flashing sirens on the way down. Kevin Miller, BLR Chief of Police and Kyle Mayr, BLR Police Officer both participated in the event, getting paired up at the Wharfinger before taking their group over to Target in the BLR TPD Truck. The shoppers were greeted by Santa as they entered, and once they got inside, a shopping spree began. First responders followed along as the children checked all of the items off their list.
While the holidays are usually a cheerful time, they can also be hard for many families. This year, 57 children were able to participate in the Shop with a Cop program. The program presents an opportunity to take care of our community, and to lead with compassion. Thank you to all of the agencies who participated in this program and made it possible.