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City council asked to approve Shop with a Cop funds
Core Community, Economic Development, are also on Monday’s agenda
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Diversion funds from Great Bend Municipal Court were used in 2024 to subsidize the Police Department’s annual Shop with a Cop. When the Great Bend City Council meets on Monday, Nov. 3, the council will be asked to approve $4,000 from this fund so officers can once again help children go on a holiday shopping trip.

This is on the agenda, along with presentations from Great Bend Economic Development and from Janice Perez with Barton Core Community. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall and will also be live-streamed on the city council Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gbcitycouncil/.

Police Chief Steve Haulmark will report on the request for Shop with a Cop funds. According to the agenda, the GBPD, in partnership with the Great Bend Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 23, has engaged in meaningful community outreach during the Christmas season for multiple years – most notably through the Shop with a Cop program.

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“Each year, staff from USD 428 provide names and contact information for students whose families are facing hardships or financial difficulties. These children are invited to Walmart to participate in the program. They are given a gift card and accompanied by police officers as they select gifts,” Haulmark’s funding request states.

“This event fosters positive relationships between our community’s children and local law enforcement while ensuring that children who might otherwise go without are able to experience the joy of the holiday season. While the children are the focus of the event, it is common to witness acts of kindness and selflessness – many children choose to spend part of their gift card amount on presents for parents or siblings.

“The value of each gift card is determined by both the number of children identified as being in need and the amount of funds available. The Shop with a Cop program is primarily funded through fundraising efforts conducted by FOP Lodge No. 23 members. However, the FOP also supports several other outreach initiatives throughout the year, which can limit available resources for this specific program.”

The request goes on to explain that the GBPD supported the program in 2023 with a contribution from its asset forfeiture account. In 2024, the city council approved the use of money from the Municipal Court Diversion account. Diversions are a second-chance opportunity offered by prosecutors that prevent convictions from going onto a criminal record. Conditions of a diversion agreement include a fine.

Chief Haulmark reports, “This support allowed us not only to shop with over 50 children but also to provide each child’s parent(s) with a separate gift card to help purchase food for a holiday meal.”