To celebrate the holiday season the Cape Coral Police Department is celebrating its 19th Annual “Shop With A Cop” event on Monday, December 20th, 2021.

To ensure the safety of all, this year the event will be handled differently. For the safety of both shoppers and officers, shoppers will need to be picked up and dropped off at Super Walmart at 1619 Del Prado Boulevard South in Cape Coral. Parents will need to drop off their child at 9 a.m. and pick them up by 11 a.m. at the Super Walmart. Once a child arrives, they will sign in, receive a mask, and then meet their officer. The officer will stay with the child the entire time as the two enjoy their Christmas shopping experience and learn a little bit about each other.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #33 and the Cape Coral Police Department’s “Do The Right Thing” program sponsors makes this event possible. The event allows officers to spend positive one-on-one time with children of families that are struggling during these difficult times.

This year especially, there are more children than ever whose families are having financial difficulties. Each year, the department chooses approximately 40 students to participate in the program. Once the team is paired off, they will be entering Super Walmart in spaced-out groups. After shopping and before parents come to pick them up, the pair will be given a boxed to-go lunch.

The “Do the Right Thing” program reinforces the idea of sharing and giving while promoting the idea that law enforcement role models are crucial to the development of our youth. The positive one-on-one experience each student receives from “Shop with a Cop” is one that is never forgotten.

The Cape Coral Police Department is now accepting applications for this year’s “Shop with a Cop.” The event will take place Monday, December 20th.

To nominate a child, parents should pick up a nomination form at the Cape Coral Police Department’s lobby or click here for PDF format: 2021 Shop With A Cop Application.

To qualify:

• You must be able to drop your child off by 9:00 a.m. and pick them up by 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 20th at Super Walmart on Del Prado Boulevard
• Child must be available on Monday, December 20th to shop
• Child must be in grade Kindergarten through 12th grade
• Child and family must live in Cape Coral
• Application, liability release and photo release must be received no later than Thursday, November 18th at:

Cape Coral Police Department
1100 Cultural Park Blvd
Cape Coral, FL 33990
Attn: Shop with a Cop (the application may be mailed or dropped off)

If your application is chosen you will be notified by phone no later than Wednesday, November 24th. If your application is not chosen for “Shop With A Cop” it will automatically be rolled over to our “Fill The Boat” Program.