IRONWOOD, Mich. (WLUC) – “Shop with a Cop” returned to Ironwood for the first time in many years on Saturday.

The event was made possible thanks to a collaboration between the Gogebic-Ontonagon Counties Communities that Care and the Michigan State Police.

Around 15 kids were paired with police officers to go shopping at Walmart, Tractor Supply Co., and Abelman Clothing for winter gear. The event coordinators hope that kids will be ready for winter with the hats, gloves, jackets, and boots they picked up.

Communities that Care is a collaboration of local resources to empower youth using an evidence-based approach. “Shop with a Cop” fits into their larger mission of risk mitigation through encouraging healthy relationships between kids (and the community at large) and police officers.

Carly Hesterberg, the Communities that Care coordinator, says the program developed out of a conversation she had with a state trooper.

“And he told me about Shop with a Cop and how he was trying to get it off the ground,” said Hesterberg. “And it really aligned with what we wanted to do as a coalition this time around as a pro-social healthy event for our youth bonding with our law enforcement.”

Joe Renaud, the Wakefield Post community service trooper who had the initial conversation with Hesterberg, hopes kids have a better appreciation for law enforcement after “Shop with a Cop.”

“Kinda breaking down those barriers to show that law enforcement isn’t… we’re not scary people we don’t just go out and write tickets and make arrests,” said Renaud. “We’re also here to help the community: that’s part of our job.”

“Shop with a Cop” was not just shopping. Breakfast was provided at the start of the event thanks to Don and GG’s in Ironwood: a business that frequently hosts community events. A crafting activity was also provided for the kids by the Ontonagon Artists Collective.

Hesterberg was grateful for the opportunity to strengthen community bonds with the police.

“It is important that parents and all people have a healthy relationship with their law enforcement and that’s something that Communities that Cares supports and we are grateful that we could give that to our kids today,” said Hesterberg.

Hesterberg says there was a great response from the community for donations. More information on donors can be found on the Gogebic-Ontonagon Counties Communities that Care’s Facebook page.

She thanks all the organizations and individuals that donated.

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