Alpena Police Department Holds 13th Annual ‘Shop With a Cop’ in New Location

The Alpena Police Department, Wal-Mart and the Department of Health and Human Services teamed up with 4 credit unions and all area law enforcement agencies for the 13th Annual APD Holiday, ‘Shop with a Cop.’

Here’s that story.

Helping others seems to be what these officers are about.

Taking time out of their busy schedules to wake up early and shop with kids is just what these men and women in blue decided to do.

Saturday, the Alpena Police Department along with Wal-Mart staff, DARE role models, the Department of Health and Human Services, and 4credit unions walked the aisles with kids as they shopped for Christmas.

Officer Marquardt said serving the community is the oath each and every one of these men and women in blue have taken.

“Well its kind of part of why I took an oath to be a police officer. I just don’t arrest people, I just don’t write people tickets. These guys and gals here all took an oath to serve and protect and today we find a perfect way to serve by helping kids, little ones who don’t always have the power and resources to do these things on their own have a better Christmas. And that’s why we are here. And as long as our partners are willing to help out I’m going to continue to do this until I retire,” he declared.

Retired now, Jack Cline a fellow Wal-Mart greeter, and former Santa for ‘Shop with a Cop’ helped Santa greet each child with their gift card.

Wal-Mart store manager, Mark Bayliss said Jack was thrilled to still be apart of the event.

“We’re just so happy to have him back here this year to help out. It’s just a blast to see him. We kind of made his day and made the kids day also,” Bayliss said.

Shopping along with the officers is a great way to see the men and women in uniform in a positive light.

“I can just see that this event is really important for the children to have interactions with the officers in a positive light, and in a positive environment where they can just chat with them and get to know them and build those relationships with our law enforcement,” DHHS worker, Levitt-Ruby said.

Saturday’s event wouldn’t be possible without the coming together of the credit unions.

Alpena/Alcona Credit Union, Thunder Bay Area Credit Union, Team One Credit Union, and Northland Area Federal Credit Union all worked together to help tribute.

“I look at my partners in the industry. Credit unions do a lot of good for the community and the fact that we can work together and not in competition, this is truly the spirit of credit unions,” Dzuris said.

“This is a classic credit union type of community event. We’re just glad to be apart of it, especially this time of year when we have the Christmas time of year, but also these are the folks that put their lives on the line everyday for our community and us to keep our community safe. And yet they still make the time to come back and give back to the community and make Christmas a whole lot brighter for a lot of families,” Nunneley said.

“I seen a little girl writing her list and she had all of her family members down and to see what she was getting for them, you think about what we do ourselves for Christmas, and to see these kids do this for Christmas it’s just a great feeling,” Schultz said.

Kmart use to host shop with a cop. With the store closing, Wal-Mart stepped in.

In Alpena for WBKB News, I’m Star Connor.