Marking a quarter century of community engagement, the Saint Paul Police Department recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its "Shop with Cops" program, an initiative designed to foster positive interactions between police officers and young community members during the holiday season. According to a social media post by the Saint Paul Police Department, the program, which began modestly with $2,000 and provided 20 kids a chance to go on a holiday shopping spree with 20 officers, has since swelled impressively, reaching over half a million dollars in donations and benefiting more than 4,000 kids.
The department took the anniversary as an opportunity to honor "Shop with Cops" founder Arnie Curiel and his fundraising partner, Jeff Garner, recognizing their enduring commitment to the initiative with the Chief’s Award for Merit; a significant nod of appreciation for the positive impact the program has had in Saint Paul and one that reflects the force's acknowledgment of their efforts which has been consistent throughout the years notwithstanding the various shifts of public opinion about law enforcement's role and reputation in society.
Originally established to strengthen community relations, the program's lasting popularity underscores the intrinsic value of such engagement efforts; indeed, the success story of "Shop with Cops" suggests that, in times when tensions between police forces and the communities they serve can run high, programs like this offer a blueprint for rebuilding trust and nurturing goodwill.
This milestone arrives at a moment when police departments are strategically looking for ways to improve community relationships and when initiatives such as "Shop with Cops" have proven not only to foster individual connections but also to serve as a cornerstone for more systemic change in how communities view their law enforcement officers—a change that comes with the cherished bonus of making the holiday season brighter for numerous families, the impact of which cannot be understated for the young beneficiaries and their protectors alike.
