Police treat children in annual Shop with a Cop

Dressed in full uniform, Colt Homan of the Maricopa Police Department stood in the shoe section of the Walmart Supercenter with a black-and-white sneaker in hand.

“Look at that,” Homan said to 8-year-old Mateo Oliver, who sat on a nearby bench. “That’s sick right there.”

Homan had finally found the right size for Mateo – and a “sick” looking style.

“You like those?” Homan asked.

Mateo gave his approval with a smile and a “yeah.” The size 3 Avia shoes would go in the cart.

It was a scene replayed throughout Saturday morning. The city’s second annual Shop with a Cop event gave 47 children ages 6 to 12 the opportunity to buy Christmas gifts for themselves and family members. The number of kids surpassed last year’s inaugural event of 16 children.

The nonprofit group For Our City Maricopa exceeded its fundraising goal of $6,000 for the event. Eric Lacz, director of the group, said members were able to raise $10,700. The nonprofit originally set a goal of taking 35 kids, but the number went up with the extra funds.

Several fundraising efforts leading up to the event contributed. A silent auction was held at Great Western Bank in Maricopa in addition to fundraisers at local businesses Honeycutt Coffee and Native New Yorker. Walmart contributed two $1,500 grants toward the event.

Teachers within the Maricopa Unified School District nominated students deserving of the charity.

“The teachers are around these kids the most,” Lacz said. “They know what the kids need the most.”

Forty-nine students out of 70 applications were chosen by a committee that included two members from MPD, he said.

One such student was Marcus Wilson, 11, who tagged along with Police Chief Steve Stahl.

“Our struggles are nothing compared to Marcus,” Stahl said.  

In a nomination letter, a Santa Cruz Elementary school teacher wrote that Marcus was battling cancer and blood disease and had been undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Stahl said Marcus was shy when he first met him, but opened up as the morning progressed. The chief noted Marcus showed off his math skills by totaling the prices of the items he picked out. The boy made sure to pick out gifts for his family members before getting anything for himself, Stahl pointed out.

More than 30 officers from the Ak-Chin and Maricopa police departments participated in the event. The children arrived at Walmart around 6:40 a.m. in a Comet shuttle bus and a city van part of a procession of police vehicles. Cop cars in the procession turned on their lights, creating a magnificent scene in the early morning darkness.  

The children ate breakfast with officers inside the Walmart’s McDonald’s before heading around the store with carts. Each boy and girl received a stocking filled with candy and a Santa hat.

Members of the Maricopa Youth Council also helped with the day’s activities.

Once the kids completed their shopping, officers assisted with wrapping gifts in an employee break room at the back of the store set up with tables, chairs and wrapping supplies.