Warsaw Police Department officers and kids participating in “Shop With a Hero” on Thursday, Dec. 8, pose at the Warsaw Meijer. The annual event allows selected kids to get clothing, toys and more at the store as well as a free dinner at the Warsaw Burger King. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Edgewood Middle School eighth grader Braxton Noll was “enjoying” the Warsaw Police Department’s “Shop With a Hero” on Thursday, Dec. 8.

“Just hanging out with our heroes and stuff is fun,” he said. “People say that they’re bad, but they’re really not.”

Noll shopped with WPD Detective Sgt. Jeff Ticknor through the annual event at the Warsaw Meijer. Held since 2013, “Shop With a Hero” allows selected kids to get clothes, toys and more.

Ticknor was one of eight officers to report for Christmas shopping duty, and told InkFreeNews he’s been participating in “Shop With a Hero” since its inception.

“I’m glad that we do this,” he said. “I’m also part of the (Kosciusko County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 149’s) “Christmas With a Cop”… that is next Thursday (Dec. 15 also at Meijer).”

“It’s great that we can do this and that kids want to participate with us,” he continued.

Another “Shop With a Hero” veteran was WPD Cpl. and Animal Control Officer Justin “Tug” Curtis. He’s also participated since the event’s start and does “Christmas With a Cop” as well.

His wife Laura Curtis shopped alongside him and Harrison Elementary School sixth grader Dakoda Goble, and said she’s made it almost every year.

Justin Curtis referenced that “Shop With a Hero” allowed kids to see a less serious side of police officers.

“We’re not what you see all the time on TV, right?” he said, talking to Goble. “We actually hang out and have fun and can have a conversation and we learn a lot from each other.”

Goble and another kid participating in “Shop With a Hero” got to ride in Curtis’ truck over to Meijer from Warsaw Burger King where officers and kids enjoyed a meal together.

“We just really enjoy helping kids,” said Justin Curtis of him and Laura Curtis.

WPD Cpl. and WCS Student Resource and D.A.R.E. Officer Roy Navarro, who coordinates the event, said Burger King provided meals for free and Meijer helps with the shopping bill.

Navarro said people are also welcome to donate funds for “Shop With a Hero” by reaching out to him through contacting the WPD.

“I love how this just comes together at the end of the year,” he said of the event. “It puts a smile on a lot of faces. … I was telling the lady from Burger King this is something that we have a ton of fun doing.”

Braxton Noll, left, points to a speaker he’s interested in while shopping with WPD Detective Sgt. Jeff Ticknor.

Dakoda Goble, right, checks out a sweatshirt with WPD Cpl. and Animal Control Officer Justin “Tug” Curtis.

Steven Brown Jr., right, shops for toys along with WPD Officer Alvaro Aguillon, center, and Aguillon’s wife Kendall Aguillon.

Olivia Moore, right, and WPD Cpl. and WCS Student Resource Officer Brandon Zartman look at a toy.

From left, WPD Cpl. and WCS SRO Phil Reed has dinner at Burger King with Anna Arriola and Cody Arriola and the Arriolas’ father Quinn Arriola.

Officers pose for a photo with Santa at Burger King.