The Warsaw Police Department had its “Shop With a Hero” event on Wednesday, Dec. 8. Some Warsaw Community Schools’ students got a free dinner at Warsaw’s Burger King before getting to shop for clothes and toys for themselves at Warsaw’s Meijer with WPD officers. Pictured, officers and kids posed for a photo at Meijer before the shopping began. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Warsaw Police officers had a special assignment on Wednesday, Dec. 8: shopping.

Officers and their families reported for duty at the Warsaw Meijer store Wednesday to help some Warsaw Community Schools’ students pick out clothing and toys as part of the WPD’s annual “Shop With a Hero” event.

Kids also got to enjoy dinner at Burger King with their families and the officers.

“Shop With a Hero” started in 2013.

“It’s always kind of been a tradition,” said WPD Cpl. Roy Navarro, the event’s coordinator. “It lets our guys get a chance to mingle with a lot of the families in the community.”

Navarro said the event allows kids to get to know officers as well as pick out items for themselves.

“Well, of course, we want them to kind of get an opportunity to rub shoulders with our police officers, get to know us on a humanitarian side,” he said. “We want them to have fun,” he added.

Meijer donates funds to pay for the items the kids pick out, and Quality Dining, which runs the Warsaw Burger King, pays for the dinners.

WPD Capt. Joel Beam has participated in “Shop With a Hero” for years. He and his wife Shelby Beam actually shopped Wednesday with one of her students at Lincoln Elementary School, Dominic Helvie.

“I love giving back to the community,” he said. “It’s why I became a police officer; I like serving and especially with being able to give back to some of my wife’s students. It’s just awesome, especially since we can work together.”

Dominic Helvie, second from right, actually got to shop with his teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, Shelby Beam, left, and her husband WPD Capt. Joel Beam, second from left. Also pictured is Helvie’s mother Dana Slone, right.

Maycee Helblig, front, checks out some toys. With her are from left: WPD Sgt. and WCS Student Resource Officer Lewis Fuller, his son Braxton Fuller and his wife Lauren Fuller.

WPD Patrolman Kevin Kyle, right, brought along his son Nash Kyle to Burger King and Meijer for the event.

Enjoying dinner at Burger King are from left: Kim Clase, Maycee Helblig, Victor Vuittonet and Jared Peters.