GRANTS, N.M. – Shop with a Cop is an event where underprivileged students in Cibola are given money to go holiday shopping. The students are accompanied by a law enforcement officer who will help them keep track of the money they have to spend and help them to reach items at the store.
Cibola County Sheriff Larry Diaz said that he sees this event as a great opportunity for students and sometimes their parents to get an understanding of how law enforcement works. Officers work hand-in-hand with their communities, and this event showcases that, he said.
Grants Police Chief Maxine Monte helped to rally the troops, calling on Homestake Mining Company’s JoAnne Martinez who helped to secure funding for the event by asking local businesses for donations.
Fifteen schools were invited to participate in this year’s event. St. Theresa’s Catholic School, St. Joseph’s Mission School, Pinehill Elementary, Grants Head Start, Bluewater Elementary, San Rafael Elementary, Milan Elementary, Mesa View Elementary, Mt. Taylor Elementary, Cubero Elementary, Seboyeta Elementary, Laguna- Acoma Middle School, Los Alamitos Middle School, Grants High School, and Early College High School were invited to attend. Each school had the ability to select two students to join the law enforcement officers on this trip.
Each student received a $200 gift certificate. They were allowed to choose items that they wanted or needed, and any left-over money would be sent home with the parents. Some students bought nothing but toys, others bought toys and necessities like food, and other students only picked out essentials like food and towels.
Cibola County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, Ramah Police Department, Acoma Police Department, Game Wardens, Game and Fish, Milan Police Department, Laguna Police Department, Fire Marshal Dustin Middleton, and Grants Police Department were all present.
Sheriff Diaz and Chief Monte said that their offices will always strive to protect the children of the community.