Monomoy Students Get To ‘Shop With A Cop’

Twice a year, local police give a handful of kids rides in cruisers.

But these kids haven’t done anything wrong; on the contrary, they’ve been chosen specifically because of their positive qualities, and their destination isn’t a police station but a day of fun and shopping.

“Shop With a Cop” happens twice a year, once just before the start of school and again at the holidays. A few weeks ago, Chatham and Harwich police took two Monomoy Regional High School students and six Monomoy Regional Middle School kids out for a day of bowling, pizza and holiday shopping.

“It’s a coordinated effort with a lot of other [school resource officers] on the Cape and their school districts,” said Chatham Police Sergeant and school resource officer William Massey. “The kids have a great time and we enjoy doing it.”

The program has been in existence for about eight years, Massey said. The Chatham and Harwich Police Associations each sponsor the students, who are nominated by school officials. Initially the nominations were based on need, but it’s evolved to also include character, how students interact with their peers and the positive attitude they exhibit.

“We wanted to look at their character and reward that,” he said.

On Dec. 12, Massey and Harwich SRO Tom Clark and their students to Ryan Family Amusement Center in Yarmouth for an hour of donated bowling, pizza and snacks. Then it was on to Kohl’s in Hyannis, where each student was given a $150 gift card.

“They can get whatever they want,” Massey said.

Before the shopping trip, officers communicate with parents, first to get their permission. “We’re certainly respectful of family wishes and boundaries,” Massey noted. Secondly, they want to make sure kids know their sizes and have some guidance as to what to spend the money on.

But there are no restrictions; kids can get what they want. Most buy some combination of clothing and other items, and many end up getting gifts for others as well, Massey said. “It’s usually mom or grandma.”

“It’s a great time for us, too,” he said. “It’s without a doubt the best time to be an SRO.” It gives the officers an opportunity to spend some quality time with the students as well. “You don’t get to know that stuff when you pass them in the hallways in school. You get to make that neat connection.”

In the past Chatham and Harwich have each taken two students shopping, but this time Chatham took six middle school kids thanks to a donation from a local resident. Massey said anyone wishing to contribute to the program can contact him at William.Massey@chathampolicema.com, or call the Chatham Police Department at 508-945-1213.