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Wlaf1450Annual Shop with a Cop, a holiday success, helped nearly 400 Campbell County children
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Santa drove a police car this year at the Shop with a Cop event which helped around 400 kids have a merrier Christmas this holiday season. Law enforcement officials from throughout the county, as well as several state departments, came together at Walmart-Jacksboro Thursday and Friday night to be a part of the holiday magic.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community; we want to thank the Joint Economic Community Development Board, the businesses, churches and individuals for donating and making this possible,” said Jacksboro Police Chief Daniel Smith.
Families began arriving at 5 p.m. at Walmart with the kids chattering in excitement about what they were going to buy. State troopers, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, corrections officers, constables and others law enforcement officials could be overheard ticking off shopping list items such as ‘baby dolls, race cars, axolotls and dinosaurs’.
The Shop with a Cop event “not only brings joy to children in Campbell County, but it also brings joy to everyone that participates” according to organizers.
This year’s program raised nearly $40,000 in total for the kids.
Each year, elementary aged children are chosen by school staff from all of the county’s elementary schools to take part in the shopping.
The kids get paired up with a law enforcement official and get to spend $100 tax free at the store. The program is non-profit and is entirely driven by donations and fundraisers. Area officers were excited to shop with the kids and see what they wanted for Christmas.
Campbell County 2nd District Constable Darryl Chapman said the event was a humbling experience for all of those involved and something he looks forward to each year.
“The bright smiles and joy on the children’s faces as they get toys and clothes are the rewards of being a law enforcement officer to me. It keeps us on track of what we should be doing in our communities, and that is being a servant,” Chapman said.
The Shop with a Cop program started around 28 years ago by retired Jacksboro Police Chief Danny Chapman and JPD police officer and detective Mike Starrett, who died in the line of duty. Since the program was established in 1998, and it has always been hosted by the Jacksboro Police Department.
Helping with the event were members of the Jacksboro Police Department, Caryville Police Department, LaFollette Police Department, LaFollette Fire Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Jellico Police Department, Campbell County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Wildlife and Resource Agency, Homeland Security, Tennessee Parks and the Tennessee Department of Correction, among others.
“We have everyone here; all the agencies, everyone wanted to be a part of this,” Chief Smith said.
The Jacksboro Police Department and other law enforcement officials involved extended a “huge thank you to the donors, school counselors, officers, and Walmart employees for helping to create the spirit of magic this holiday season and giving the gift of Christmas to hundreds of children.”
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini at ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-12/15/2025-6AM)