Washington Township Police Department hosts second annual ‘Shop with a Cop’
The Washington Township Police Department added another notch to its community caretaking belt on Dec. 12 by hosting its second annual Shop with a Cop.
Police Chief Pat Gurcsik said they chose 20 children from local elementary schools to participate.
“We take 20 less-fortunate children from Washington Township shopping and give them a pizza party,” Gurcsik said. “They meet Santa, and then we hop on a school bus and take them to WalMart where they have lists provided by their family. They’ll be able to purchase up to $250 worth of gifts for family members.”
The event starts with the children arriving at the Church of the Holy Family in Sewell where they are partnered with a police officer. Shortly after, the children are given a pizza party where the children can bond with their police buddies, a game of foosball or billiards.
Officer Paul Crozier picked up his buddy, Xavier, and took him to the party in a police car. Xavier, who had never been in a police car before, said it was more fun than a carnival.
For Gurcsik, this type of event fits perfectly into the culture and philosophy he has instilled.
“It’s important for more than one reason,” he said. “We’re able to provide for the less-fortunate but they’re able to get to meet our police officers and see them as human beings. Not as law enforcers, but more as community caretakers, someone they can look up to and hopefully relate to.”
Mayor Joann Gattinelli, who was also present at the event, echoed Gurcsik’s sentiment about community caretaking.
“When it comes to children, especially this time of year we want to make sure they understand the holiday itself and what it’s about,” Gattinelli said. “It’s about giving. I feel they’re giving us so much by being with us and allowing us to take care of them. This community outreach, I feel, is giving out the best to our ability to help those in need.”
Santa Claus arrived at the party about a half-hour before the police and kids went to WalMart. He took notice of how good the kids were.
“I can’t wait until the 25th when I go out and deliver all the toys to all the boys and girls,” he said.
Santa added most of the kids in Washington Township were on the nice list but a few of them were iffy, but have been working on improving.
Aside from Gurcsik, Officer Gary Egizi is one of the organizers behind the popular event. Egizi received names from the elementary school nurses of a boy and girl who could use a little help this holiday season, citing representatives from all of the elementary schools, including Grenloch. He said WalMart gave the department a grant to help fund the presents they buy, and local businesses chipped in as well.
“Everyone was very generous this year,” he said.
“This is so powerful, so moving,” Egizi said. “To be able to go out and help local families that need help during the holidays and see the smiles on their faces when they give you a hug and say ‘thank you’ with tears in their eyes that you provided them a Christmas for their family. It’s amazing, it’s powerful.”
What Egizi doesn’t tell the kids is when they’re out shopping for their families and wrapping presents he’s picking out gifts for the kids as a surprise.
Gurcsik said this is one of the department’s favorite nights of the year. Police officers taking 20 less fortunate kids under their wings for a night fits right into the community caretaking culture that he has instilled.
“It’s huge seeing smiles on somebody else’s face,” he said.
