The Perry Police Department continued their holiday tradition recently, and took kids in the area on a shopping trip around town through their annual “Shop with a Cop” program.

Police Chief Eric Vaughn said they had 29 participants this year, with each receiving $150 to spend on their families and themselves. The kids were paired with Perry Police Officers, as well as representatives from the Perry Fire Department and Dallas County Emergency Medical Services. Participants met at Perry Elementary before heading out Saturday morning. Vaughn said everyone had a great time, and their goal was accomplished. “It’s a great program to help out some of those kids that maybe their parents don’t quite have enough around the Christmas holiday to make a good Christmas for the kids. And sometimes it’s just also a good interaction for kids that are maybe having a rough time for various reasons. So get a little positive interaction with the police department, and a little something positive at this time of season.”

Vaughn added, there was some concern about how smoothly this year’s program would go, since former Officer Laura Deaton had been the primary organizer, and the largest shopping destination, ShopKo, has closed. However, he said Officer Josh Seinkowicz stepped up to fill the organizational role, while Orscheln Farm and Home, Dollar General, and Ben’s Five and Dime provided everything the kids needed for their shopping lists. To learn more about this and other topics involving the Perry Police Department, listen to tomorrow’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.