BUFFALO – Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron C. Lockwood, participating officers of the Buffalo Police
Department Neighborhood Engagement Team (BPD NET) and the Buffalo Police Athletic League (PAL) offered a
special ‘Shop with a Cop’ event today. ‘Shop with a Cop’ provides local children, ages 8 to 12, the opportunity to
shop with police officers for holiday gifts for their families. The unique holiday experience was developed with
the idea of helping children from Buffalo neighborhoods whose families may be facing financial challenges during
the holiday season and also continues Mayor Byron W. Brown’s strong commitment to further build positive
relationships between the community and police.
“As we continue to build bridges between our community and our police, we want our children to have positive
experiences with law enforcement and that’s just what ‘Shop with a Cop’ is all about,” said Mayor Brown. “I
especially thank our participating police officers who took time, two Sundays before Christmas, to volunteer to
help make the holiday a little better and brighter for some of our most vulnerable children and their families.”
Commissioner Lockwood stated, “This event is a wonderful way for us to give back and show these children who
we really are. Many of them don’t have the opportunity to see police officers in a positive light. In this day and
time, it’s really important to develop that type of communicati on and understanding.”
Children arrived at the Walmart on Walden in a caravan of police cruisers, after being treated to a small pizza
party at Carbone’s Pizza and Subs on South Park Avenue. The Police Athletic League of Buffalo (PAL), which
provides a wide range of programming for children and disadvantaged youth in the Buffalo area, assisted in the
selection of the young shoppers. Selection was mostly based on financial or emotional need.
The event was funded entirely through donations from Buffalo Police Officers, as well as the generous support of
the Erie County District Attorney’s Office and Walmart.