ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica—The St Elizabeth Police Division celebrated a milestone in community engagement as its annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ Christmas initiative reached a record 200 children from across the parish. This marks the third consecutive year of the program’s successful operation under the leadership of Superintendent Coleridge Minto.
Superintendent Minto, accompanied by his entire management team and officers from the Community Safety and Security Branch, expressed particular satisfaction with this year’s unprecedented turnout. “We are pleased with the turnout. It is by far the largest number of children that we have seen over the three-year period,” Minto stated on Tuesday, noting that the program continues to grow annually despite challenges posed by Hurricane Melissa.
The initiative, designed to strengthen police-community relations during the holiday season, provided selected children with gifts and festive experiences. Beyond the shopping component, the event expanded to include celebratory activities at the Santa Cruz police station, where children enjoyed meals and recreational facilities including a bounce-about play area.
Minto extended heartfelt appreciation to the initiative’s sponsors and partners, acknowledging their crucial role in making the event possible. “I want to say thanks to all our partners who assisted us to ensure that this day will be a reality to the police, to the parents, to the stakeholders, to all those who contributed in one way or another,” he emphasized.
The growing success of the program demonstrates the St Elizabeth Police Division’s commitment to community-oriented policing strategies and positive relationship building with the communities they serve.