Shop with a Cop has biggest year yet

More than 400 children will have happier holidays

TOP PHOTO: Aubree Muse, center, and Cayden Perkins visited with Santa during Thursday’s Shop with a Cop event at Walmart.  Santa wore a badge at this year’s Shop with a Cop event!

Jacksboro Police Chief Daniel Smith and Chloe Pack had a great time at the Annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Thursday evening.  Chloe picked out “Squishmallows” and beef jerky, among other items as her Christmas gifts!

Cindy Smith shares her photo of multiple law enforcement agencies came together on Thursday evening Multiple law enforcement agencies came together on Thursday evening for the annual Shop with a Cop event.

By Charlotte Underwood 

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The annual Shop with a Cop program is helping more than 400 Campbell County children have happier holidays this year, making it the biggest event yet!

Kids and Cops alike were all smiles as they shopped their way around Walmart on Thursday evening. A second shopping day is slated for Friday as well.

According to Jacksboro Police Chief Daniel Smith, the program expanded this year, providing “400 plus kids with $100 each for holiday shopping.” 

“This is something me and my department have been working on all year. This is a county wide event and it helps so many children that need the help,” Police Chief Smith said.

Jacksboro Police Department heads up the annual Shop with a Cop program. (PHOTO COURTESY OF CINDY SMITH)

The department held road drives, a golf tournament and other fundraisers to raise money for the event.

“Any spare minute all year, we have been focusing on this event,” Chief Smith said.

The Shop with a Cop program was established in 1998 and has been hosted by the Jacksboro Police Department since its inception.  

Local law enforcement officers helped spread holiday cheer to area kids on Thursday evening.  Left to right is Jamie Inman with the Campbell County Sheriff’s department, Noah Riggs with the LaFollette Police Department and Anderson County Sheriff’s deputy and 2nd district Constable Darryl Chapman.

The program was started around 25 years ago by retired Jacksboro Police Chief Danny Chapman, as well as Jacksboro Detective Mike Starrett. Starrett later died in the line of duty.  

“Mike Starrett did a lot with the Shop with a Cop program; he’s still an inspiration to all of us,” Chief Smith said .

Each year multiple law enforcement agencies join together for the holiday event helping local children.

Local schools provide the names of students in need to participate in the program. 

Cindy Smith shares this group shot of multiple agencies coming together on Friday night finishing up the 2023 Shop with a Cop event.

“This is the greatest event in Campbell County to bring together so many different agencies to help our kids. We are in a low income area, and sometimes mom and dad can’t buy gifts; I can’t think of anything better than getting the kids out here to pick out their own,” Campbell County Sheriff Wayne Barton said.

The kids also got to see Santa and get their picture made, as well as receive a gift card for a personal pan pizza and drink from Pizza Hut.

Here are the Cumberland Trail State Park Rangers who participated in this year’s Shop with a Cop. This photo is courtesy of Cindy Smith.
Cumberland Trail State Park Rangers that participated in this year’s Shop with a Cop.

Participating agencies included the Jacksboro Police Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee State Parks, Campbell County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security, LaFollette Police Department, Jellico Police Department, Caryville Police Department, Jacksboro Fire Department, Tennessee Wildlife Department, Department of Children’s Services, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, Scott County Sheriff’s department and the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

Jacksboro Police Chief Daniel Smith said he and the department wanted to say “thanks for all the donations and hard work that went into the event this year.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 12/08/2023-6AM)