- February 21, 2025
Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies and employees take children shopping for Christmas. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly with his wife Debbie Staly, Santa Claus and the Grinch at Shop with a Cop. Photo by Sierra Williams
Deputy Hayleigh Prentiss helps Olivia Reed load stuffed animals into their basket. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Shop with a Cop motorcade arrives Palm Coast's Walmart. Photo by Sierra Williams
FCSO deputies and employees escort their Shop with a Cop children into Walmart. Photo by Sierra Williams
FCSO's RTCC manager Nikki North and Jazilyn pose with Santa Claus for Shop with a Cop. Photo by Sierra Williams
Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon watches as Ja'mauris picks out his Christmas toys. Photo by Sierra Williams
Santa Claus arrives at the FCSO Operations Center for Shop with a Cop. Courtesy of FCSO
Children wrap their FCSO deputies in streamers. Courtesy of FCSO
Sgt. Ryan Emergy helps Tommy pick out a bike for Shop with a Cop. Photo by Sierra Williams
Kids play basketball at the 2024 Shop with a Cop event. Courtesy of FCSO
Santa Claus greets children and law enforcement alike at the Shop with a Cop event. Courtesy of FCSO
FCSO employees help Shop with a Cop children pick out their toys. Photo by Sierra Williams
Comdr. Althea Civil helps siblings Zaine and Laya pick out toys for Shop with a Cop. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Grinch steals food behind a FCSO employee's back. Photo by Sierra Williams
Christmas has come for 125 children from struggling Flagler County families thanks to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office Shop with a Cop.
FCSO and other law enforcement deputies, officers and employees were each assigned a child and given a $225 gift card for their child to spend at Palm Coast's Walmart Supercenter on gifts for themselves their families. The gift card money was raised through FCSO employees, community organizations and individuals donated over $35,000 to the Flagler Sheriff’s Childrens Charities for the event, a FCSO press release said.
FCSO employees alone donated $24,200 through voluntary payroll deductions in 2024. Sheriff Rick Staly thanked everyone who donated to help support the county's children in need.
“Shop with a Cop is an event that we look forward to every year, and it would not be possible without the gracious support of our employees and these great people and organizations in our community,” Staly said.
On Friday, Dec. 13, law enforcement officers and employees picked up the children enrolled for Shop with a Cop from their homes and brought them to the FCSO Operations Center for holiday-themed games and fun, including the opportunity to meet Santa Claus and the Grinch. Afterwards, law enforcement officers escorted the children across town to the store in a police motorcade to begin Christmas shopping.
The goal of Shop with a Cop is to help children and families who are struggling and experiencing situations like economic hardships, victims of domestic violence or are children who have been placed in foster care, the press release said. FCSO employees and Flagler Schools staff nominate children to participate in event.
The Flagler Sheriff’s Childrens Charities also received donations for Shop with a Cop from the following organizations and businesses, the press release said: the A Morea Group; AMVETS Post 113, AMVETS Lady’s Auxiliary 113, and Sons of AMVETS 113; the Bunnell Police Department; Christ Lutheran Church; the Douglas family; Environmental Land Services; the Flagler County Tax Collector’s Office; Hammock Hardware; JMB Quality Construction; Knights of the Inferno Firefighters Motorcycle Club; Mark Dyberg with Seniors vs. Crimes; Pioneer Guns & Ammo; Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club; and the Quantum family of businesses.
