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BRIEF: Shop with a CopDec 10, 2012 (The Observer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Men, women in uniform take 16 kids shopping Selected La Grande area school kids are going Christmas shopping this week with some men and women in uniform. On Wednesday, members of the La Grande Police Department and the Union County Sheriff's Office are taking 16 kids to Walmart to "Shop with a Cop." Each kid will be given $100 to buy Christmas presents for his or her family. As they browse the aisles for the perfect gifts, they'll be getting to know some the area's law enforcement officers. After shopping, the kids and cops have lunch together and get to hang out while their presents are wrapped. "It's good to have the kids experience a positive influence with police officers. When we go into homes it's only for the negative. Spending time one-on-one in a fun way shows the other side of that," said Sgt. Jason Hays of the La Grande Police Department. Walmart, Loveland Funeral Chapel and other businesses and community members donated the money for the program modeled on one developed by the Redmond City Police, said Hays. Hays said, "It gives us a chance to provide something for a family in need." ___ (c)2012 The Observer (La Grande, Ore.) Visit The Observer (La Grande, Ore.) at www.lagrandeobserver.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |