Sir: After we went through all the anti-cop news south of the border, it was really refreshing to read Bruce Corcoran’s story, “Cops, kids swarm Wal-Mart,” in the Dec. 25 edition of The Chatham Voice.
First we had the United Way initiative Operation Cover-Up in September and October when people donated gently used coats to be distributed to men, women and children in Chatham-Kent. In the last 23 years more than 60,000 coats had been donated.
Then on Dec. 20 there was our first Chatham Shop with a Cop day. There were many exciting happenings at Wal-Mart, where dozens of officers and auxiliary officers from the Chatham-Kent OPP and Chatham-Kent police helped 32 kids do their Christmas shopping.
OPP Sgt. Brian Knowler spearheaded the event. I think I heard about Sgt. Brian when he was stationed in northern Ontario and I lived in Elliot Lake. I believe the concept for Shop with a Cop day came from northern Ontario where officers would take less fortunate kids shopping for the family for Christmas, using gift cards paid for through donations.
Chatham police first obtained co-operation from various businesses and individuals who donated the gift cards. Wal-Mart helped by adding staff and setting up specific Shop with a Cop checkouts.
I know we do have crime locally, but we also have police who like to get involved in community events. Like many others, I thank God my home is in the area known as Canada’s vegetable and fruit Garden.
Stephen Beecroft
Chatham
