14th annual Milan ‘Shop with a Cop’ brings smiles to local children’s faces

MILAN, Tenn. — Kids got a little more than $20,000 to spend for Tuesday evening’s ‘Shop with a Cop’ event in Milan.

It’s the 14th annual Milan ‘Shop with a Cop,’ with more than 35 law enforcement vehicles with 70 kids who are looking for their favorite Christmas present.

“I’m getting shoes, jacket and some other toys,” said ‘Shop with a Cop’ shopper, Jasmin Hughes

With duck toys and Barbie doll fights, Gibson County officers have had their work cut out for them. Milan Police Chief Bobby Sellers agrees.

“It’s grown so much that we’ve had to get help from other police departments because we don’t have enough manpower to take 70 kids shopping,” Sellers said.

“We got all sorts from Camden, Medina, Trenton, just all over Gibson County,” Sellers said.

Sellers said kids ages three and up get $300 to spend, and kids under three get $200.

Hughes said this is her first time shopping with a cop, and she’s looking to find clothes for her doll.

“I got like this cute night gown, and it matches my Life Doll nightgown,” Hughes said.

“It’s, you know, Christmas time, and we’re supposed to be giving back,” Sellers said. “It allows us to do that, spend a couple hours with the kids, take them shopping, and to see the joy on their face. It may be all that some of them get for Christmas.”

Sellers said ‘Shop with a Cop’ is made possible with donations from local businesses in Milan.