Cops shop, connect with Elgin youth

Elgin Police Department and neighboring agency officers traded badges for shopping bags last weekend, picking out gifts and building relationships with the city’s youth.

The Elgin Juneteenth Organization’s annual Shop with a Cop event, chaired by Charlotte Thomas, paired police with local students for a Walmart shopping spree Dec. 14.

“This program is a bridge-builder, fostering meaningful connections between the children of the Elgin community and our Elgin Police officers,” Council Member YaLecia Love said.

Supplied with donated gift cards, officers helped the kids select clothes, toys and games, while strengthening trust and mutual understanding, according to the group.

“It serves as an opportunity for law enfor cement and the community to come together in a spirit of collaboration and unity. Together, we are shaping a community rooted in compassion, partnership and shared purpose,” Love added.

The event also promoted positive interactions with the agencies that will help oversee a safe future for the young Elginites, attendees said.