Havre law enforcement again helps bring Christmas to local children

Editor’s note: This corrects the spelling of the name of Kaylynn Hawley.

Havre Police Department held its fifth annual Shop with a Cop event for local children in Havre, partnering with Walmart, Pizza Hut, Gary and Leo's Fresh Foods and North Central Montana Transit to bring Christmas to a number of families in the area.

"It feels great to have this going," Havre Police Sgt. Jesse Eller, an organizier, said. "It's nice to have everybody involved."

Shop with a Cop is a program put on by the Havre Police Department, he said. The department selects a number of children and takes them to Walmart to go shopping for Christmas, purchasing gifts for their families and themselves.

Eller said that this year, because of this year's high number of donations to the event, the Havre Police Department was able to select 15 children from the area for the event, five more than last year. He added that a lot of different community members as well as the events sponsors donated to the event to help the event grow.

He said he and his wife, Laura, have been organizing the event since the beginning and are happy to see the program grow and provide children with things for Christmas they wouldn't normally have.

"I think it's great," he said. "There are certain kids who have had bad interaction with law enforcement and have seen their parents get arrested. It takes its toll and takes their trust out of law enforcement. It's nice for them to be able to see that we're not always there to be arresting somebody, they can come to us for help."

Havre Police Department also had a number of volunteers, including Montana Highway Patrol, Hill County Sheriff's Office and Probation and Parole Office.

He said that it is hard to keep track of all the children and the Havre Police Department is short staffed and doesn't always have enough officers available to shop with the children every year, which is why it is important that other departments get involved.

Eller added that they try to match children with law enforcement they can relate to. He said that it's important that the children feel safe and connected with the officers.

Laura Eller said that her favorite thing about the event was seeing the bonds the children create with law enforcement.

"It's a great program," she said.

She added that thanks to the sponsors of the event, planning every year is a easy, smooth process and help further the mission of Shop with a Cop.

"I'm excited to give these kids a great day, a great Christmas," she said. "It's all about the Christmas spirit."

Havre Police officer Tyler Craig was shopping with Highland Park school first grader Kaylynn Hawley. 

Hawley said that she was buying a number of clothes, shoes, hats and toys for her family and herself. She added that it was her first year doing Shop with a Cop and was enjoying spending time with Craig. 

One thing she was really excited for was a pair of shoes she was getting for her upcoming Christmas concert at her school and getting some Christmas gifts for her father, she said.

Craig said it was also his first year doing the event and he was having fun shopping with Hawley. Craig said that they had become friends and he would like to continue doing the event in the future.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Lewis Johnson was shopping with third grader Isabelle Cowan. 

Cowan said she was getting a number of things for her family, including her baby cousin. She added that she was having fun hanging out with Johnson and looks forward to seeing her family's reaction on Christmas to the gifts she got them. 

Johnson said that they had already picked a number of toys and other items and they were going to start picking out some clothes and stuff. He added that it was his first time being involved with Shop with a Cop and he was having a good time.

"I really like the opportunity to spend time with the kids from the community," he said, adding that it is important to show children the more positive side of his job.

Most of the time that he sees children in his line of work is when he stops their parents on the highway, Johnson said, and the parents are not usually excited to see him. But Shop with a Cop is something positive and shows law enforcement in a different light.

"It's a good experience, not only for them but also for me," he said.

Hill County Sheriff's Office Deputy Amanda Verploegen said that she has wanted to do Shop with a Cop for a number of years but rarely had the time to be able to participate. She said that this was the first year she was able to participate and she was very excited about the event.

"It always looks like a lot of fun," she said.

Verploegen was shopping with Isabella St. Pierre, who had gotten a number of presents for her family.

St. Pierre said she was having fun shopping and liked hanging out with law enforcement.

Havre Police Senior Patrolman Justin Gomke, who was also shopping with St. Pierre and Verploegen said that he enjoys participating in Shop with a Cop.

"It's wonderful enjoy being able to partake every year," Gomke said. "... It's neat Isabella picked out gifts for her family first then got stuff for herself."

Verploegen said that Shop with a Cop shows an important part of law enforcement.

"This is really what it's about, being a part of the community and spending time with people in the community in positive ways," she said. "It's not all just about enforcing laws."

"This type of stuff gets me excited about the holidays," Verploegen added.

Volunteer Morgan Elmore was also shopping with St. Pierre. Elmore said that she works at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line and knows St. Pierre from the Boys & Girls Club. She added that St. Pierre is a great child and was happy to see her be able to participate in Shop with a Cop.

Walmart Store Manager Kasey Dietz said he enjoys seeing law enforcement and children shopping every year with Shop with a Cop. He added that it is great to see the children smiling and having a good time.

"I think the tie between law enforcement and children are always really important," he said.

Walmart has donated $2,000 this year for the event, he said, and he believes the event helps law enforcement and the community have a good relationship. He added that he wants every child to have a fun and good Christmas.

"I want them to be able to have a great day," Dietz said, "make Christmas happen and make Christmas special this year."