MOSES LAKE — The Walmart store in Moses Lake was awash in uniforms Tuesday evening, as nearly every law enforcement officer in the area was gathered there for the annual Shop with a Cop event. 

“We get so many of our deputies that want to be part of this,” said Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete. “Every year we get some guys that keep coming back to do it, but we get a pretty good cycle of new people every year that want to be part of it.” 

“The nice thing is, everyone that’s here is here on their own (time),” said Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands. “No one’s working tonight that’s here right now.” 

Shop with a Cop has been an annual tradition since 2012, according to the Columbia Basin Herald’s archives. Law enforcement officers are assigned a local family and a gift card and turned loose to buy whatever the children want for Christmas. The first year, the GCSO went shopping with four children; the following year the MLPD joined in and 15 children got their Christmas wishes. 

Tuesday’s event included 23 or 24 families, many with two, three or more children, and drew officers from the Warden Police Department, the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as half a dozen cadets from the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center’s criminal justice program. 

“When we did that Tip a Cop program a couple of weeks ago to raise the money for this event, some of those students were there helping out as well,” said their instructor, former MLPD Chief Dave Ruffin. “They like doing this, and it’s good for them to be involved with not only the community but (the other agencies). It’s good for them to be around the officers.” 

“This is a great opportunity for us to (be more invested in the community),” said WSP Lt. Ryan Raymond. “All of our troopers live in these communities … and it's just a really important thing for them to be able to come back and be on this side of it and provide a fun night evening for all the kids.” 

The event started off with a pizza party in the back of the store for officers and families, donated by Papa John’s. It wasn’t just uniformed officers shopping with the families; support staff and spouses were out as well. Santa Claus, played by MLPD Cpl. Ray Lopez in a blue suit, roamed the aisles as well, and an officer dressed as the Grinch found himself getting arrested several times at the behest of gleeful children. Volunteers had set up a wrapping station in the back so the gifts could be sent home prepared for Christmas morning. 

Surprisingly, the children didn’t all dash straight for the toys. Six-year-old Jessica Sanchez, accompanied by MLPD Det. Edgar Salazar, was trying on one pair of boots after another to see which was warmest. 

“I moved 21 times by the time I was 24 years old,” Salazar said. “Military, low-income background, and I’ve never landed in a place as supportive as Moses Lake.” 

Harmony Larioz, 8, dressed in Grinch pants and Grinch T-shirt, was looking for yet more Grinch paraphernalia, a big, yellow-eyed Grinch hat. 

“She’s a Christmas Eve baby,” said her mom, Evelyn Martinez, who had two more children shopping with officers as well. “It’s awesome. I feel super blessed. It’s been a hard year, but it’s getting better.” 

Elaina Brooks, 7, had also had a tough year, said her grandmother, Robin Brooks. 

“My husband, her Papa, passed away, and she’s taken it a little hard,” she said. “When she got in trouble, that’s who she ran to, and she’s trying to adjust to it.” 

Elaina had her cart filled in less than 15 minutes and was already at the wrapping station. 

“She’s very excited,” Brooks said. “At first she didn’t want to come, she was scared. And then she was so excited she wanted to be here by four o’clock.” 

“I guarantee this, (you won’t) see officers without a smile on their face,” Sands said. “It’s the funnest day of the year.” 

    Parker Van Blaricom, 9, discusses toy options with Moses Lake Police Officer Kaydren Dunkin at Shop with a Cop Tuesday.
  

    From left: Moses Lake Police Officers Yulisa Zepeda-Lopez and Greg Alvarado help Harmony Larioz, 8, and her sister Faith Larioz, 11, pick out holiday clothes at Shop with a Cop at Walmart in Moses Lake.
  

    Taylor Mansford wraps presents in the back room at Walmart in Moses Lake for Shop with a Cop Tuesday.