The Fulton County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 143’s “Shop With a Cop” was held on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Rochester Walmart. Shown are some of the officers and non-police volunteers who helped with it.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — Fulton County Sheriff Travis Heishman said the Fulton County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 143’s “Shop With a Cop” is “very rewarding.”

He and his wife Angie Heishman participated in their approximately 15th “Shop With a Cop” on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Rochester Walmart.

Officers from departments throughout the county and non-police volunteers helped an estimated 280 kids get clothes and toys. Each child received $100 to shop.

One of those kids was Darius Jeffers, 11. He shopped with the Heishmans.

Jeffers said it felt “pretty good” to go shopping and have “new stuff because a lot of my old stuff I just grew out of.”

Angie Heishman said she enjoyed the shopping as well.

“Just taking the kids around to pick out what they want is exciting for us too,” she said.

“And there are times the kids will recognize you from a call and there are times that they’ll recognize you from last year and give you a hug,” said Travis Heishman.

“It’s an awesome program. The amount of community involvement … is just fantastic,” he added, noting the amount of donations from the public for the event.

Another couple shopping with kids Saturday were the Utters: Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Matt Utter and his wife Lindsay Utter.

They’ve done the event for about seven years.

“It’s an excellent cause for the community,” said Matt Utter.

Rochester Police Department Officer Catherine Diveley participated in her second “Shop With a Cop” Saturday.

She said she does it to “give the kids a Christmas.”

“Every kid deserves to have a Christmas, and it’s a very worthwhile cause,” said Diveley.

“Shop With a Cop” was started by former police officer Dennis Price in Fulton County in 1996 after he heard of the program elsewhere. He serves as the program’s coordinator.

Price, who worked for the Rochester and Kewanna police departments and as a Fulton County Courthouse security officer, said there were 80 kids the first year.

Children this year were chosen from nine programs which serve kids in need.

“This is a community policing project. This shows the community the other side of law enforcement,” said Price. “We’re showing the kids that we are the good cops.”

“The community is really behind the program,” he added.

Kids, officers and volunteers also had doughnuts and drinks courtesy of Dunkin’ and Starbucks respectively.

To donate for a future “Shop With a Cop,” funds may be dropped off at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office or Rochester Police Department or mailed to P.O. Box 284, Rochester IN 46975.

Fulton County Sheriff Travis Heishman, left, and his wife Angie Heishman, right, pose with Darius Jeffers.

Some of the shoppers were from left Raven Jeffers and Lindsay Utter and her husband Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Matt Utter.

Rochester Police Officer Catherine Diveley, right, holds up leggings against Lily Griese to see if they are the right length.

Landon Paddock, right, and RPD Sgt. Gerard Ostrom check out jeans.

Harley Smith, Calista Smith and Fulton County Chief Deputy Coroner Margo Layman smile for the camera.

Some of the volunteers Saturday included from left Fulton County Coroner Jeri Good, Fulton County Assessor Kasey Hensley and Fulton County EMA and 911 Communications Director and Deputy Coroner Gail Karas.

Mikel Richcreek, right, checks out a toy. Also shown are from left Kewanna Police Department Assistant Chief Sheri Gaillard, RPD Officer Catherine Diveley and Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Deputy James Dulin.

Indiana State Police Master Trooper Todd Trottier, left, and Sawyer Rudd look at shoes.

RPD Officer Ed Haines, right, checks to see if Payton Hall’s shoe fits.

Looking at socks are front to back Sera Richcreek, Lilliana Richcreek, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Abbi Miller and Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Deputy James Dulin.