Police officers deliver Christmas smiles

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Princeton Police Ptlm. R.S. Gibson listens as Kaleb Lowe explains his wish list Monday during the FOP 89 Christmas Shopping Spree at Princeton Walmart. Tammie Toler
West Virginia State Police Trooper J.L. Morris assists Jasmine Atwell during the FOP 89 Christmas Shopping Spree Monday. In the background, Mercer County Sheriff's Department Senior Deputy W.C. Wilborn shops with Jeanette and Dexter Lester. Tammie Toler

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December 17, 2012

Police officers deliver Christmas smiles

By TAMMIE TOLER Princeton Times The Zope Gazette Mon Dec 17, 2012, 04:29 PM EST

PRINCETON — Twenty-two elementary school children arrived at Princeton Walmart with shopping lists as long as their imagination Monday. Jasmine Atwell only wanted one thing, and it couldn’t be bought.

“There’s actually one thing I’m not going to buy, but I’m still going to get it,” Jasmine said, just after learning she’d won a drawing for a new bike. “I want a cop’s autograph.”

Standing nearby, Princeton Police Department’s Lt. J.W. Howell obliged the request, wrote a brief message on a piece of borrowed paper and signed his name.

“It was great. I’ve never had that happen before — for somebody to ask me for my autograph and mean it,” Howell said. “I was glad to do it.”

Jasmine was one of the students selected from 11 schools throughout FOP Lodge 89’s coverage area to receive a $100 Christmas shopping spree. She shopped the morning away with West Virginia State Police Trooper J.L. Morris, who cheerfully helped Jasmine choose a purple, pink and white bike from the Walmart racks in the back of the store.

“I did have this bike a long time ago, but it got stolen,” Jasmine recalled, as Hello Kitty scrapbooks and stickers caught her attention and she got back about the business of holiday shopping.

Brian Evans, from Athens School, was the second recipient of the bike drawings, but he was not available for comment as the shopping spree continued.

The students who roamed the aisles in search of Barbies and remote-controlled helicopters came from Princeton Primary, Straley, Ceres, Glenwood, Spanishburg, Oakvale, Mercer, Lashmeet/Matoaka, Athens, Sun Valley and Melrose schools, and the officers on hand to help represented Princeton Police, Mercer County Sheriff’s Department and WVSP Princeton detachment.

“It’s my pleasure,” Trooper Morris said, smiling as he pushed the shopping cart behind Jasmine en route to her next destination.

Meanwhile, Mercer County Sheriff’s Senior Deputy W.C. Wilborn accompanied brother-and-sister duo Dexter and Jeanette Lester.

Dexter, 7, quickly identified his must-have purchases, including a handful of remote-controlled vehicles he hoped to operate soon, but Jeanette was a little more thoughtful in her selections.

“She’s huntin’ Barbies,” Dexter said, as Jeanette rushed off, too busy to chat.

Wilborn enjoyed the morning.

“All too often, we come across parents with these children, and the adults tell the children that the police officers are going to come get them if they are bad. As police officers, we don’t want the kids to get that message,” Wilborn said. “This lets them know that they don’t have to be afraid of us. We’re their friends, and we want to help if they need us.”

Trooper L.F. Lee shopped with Lennie and Ashlie Posey.

Much like Jasmine, Lennie embarked on a search for Hello Kitty items, while Ashlie reserved judgment on her purchases until the end.

“I’m just going with her right now,” Ashlie said, much more reserved than Lennie.

“I felt happy,” Lennie said, explaining her thoughts when she boarded the bus from school and headed to the store.

Monday’s excursion marked Lee’s first Shopping Spree experience, but he was excited to lend a hand and some math skills essential to tallying the purchases.

“It’s awesome. I love working with kids,” he said. “This is a really good thing.”

While FOP’s Christmas drive has historically relied on monetary donations from individuals, Howell said local businesses chipped in and made the 2012 shopping trip possible.

“The kids obviously enjoy it, but our officers do, too,” Howell said. “We look forward to this day all year long. It’s really special to see the smiles on the faces.”

Along with the officers, some teachers from the schools that benefited and several Walmart managers and associates joined the shopping effort.

“It’s really rewarding to us, because we get to see children that might not have Christmas presents enjoy the holiday,” Walmart Assistant Manager Brenda Johnson said. “It’s just nice to see their faces light up.”

— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.

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