100 Bolingbrook Students Treated In Annual Shop With A Cop Event

BOLINGBROOK, IL — More than 100 Bolingbrook students were treated to a day of gifts and other holiday treats on Tuesday as the Bolingbrook Police Department and Meijer teamed up for the 23rd annual Shop With A Cop event.

The event was scheduled to take place at the Meijer store on East Boughton Road but was moved to the Bolingbrook Town Center due to COVID-19 restrictions and held outdoors by appointment only. Students received gift bags, a gift card from Meijer as well as an additional Christmas gift along hot chocolate and snacks.

Bolingbrook Police Chief Mike Rompa has coordinated the Shop With A Cop initiative for the past 23 years and said that the department takes pride in making the holidays brighter for area students who participate in the program. The event, which also included rides for students in the Bolingbrook Police electric utility vehicle, included a tour of Winter Walk, a path of holiday lights and decorations located behind the Town Center.

The annual event enhances positive relationships between members of the police department, the selected Bolingbrook children and their families, the police department said. The program, which also included participation from the Bolingbrook Fire Department this year, has grown each year and the positive interaction is incredible, police officials said in a news release.

“It gives our officers an opportunity to enhance communication and build a rapport with area students and their families,” police officials said.

“Although drastically different (because of the pandemic), the event was an amazing success.”