ASHLAND, Ohio — We see “Shop with a Cop” events every year. It’s a chance for police officers to go shopping with kids to pick out the perfect gifts for this holiday season. But one child left with something that some parents found to be inappropriate.
Each child is allowed to pick exactly what they want up to a certain dollar amount. Money for the event often comes from fundraisers and donations.
The Shop with a Cop event on Sunday in Ashland was no different. Nearly 180 kids participated in the event, the largest number in its history.
Two of the participants were brothers, ages 6 and 8. A Channel 3 viewer called us to express her concerns after she saw what was purchased by the 6-year-old.
The child picked a copy of Grand Theft Auto V for his Xbox 360. The reason our caller was concerned is that the game is rated “M” for mature. It received this rating because of intense violence, blood and gore, nudity, mature humor, strong language, strong sexual content and use of drugs and alcohol during game play.
We went to the Ashland Police Department to speak with Chief David Marcelli, who served as the 6-year-old’s shopping buddy for the day.
Marcelli declined an on-camera interview, but he did tell us that the the items purchased are not up to him. The child picks what he or she wants, and it’s up to parents to make the final approval. Even though the event is called Shop with a Cop, departments do not get in the way of parenting, he said.
Marcelli said the cop is sort of “symbolic” in nature. They’re only responsible for holding on to the gift cards used to make purchases.
Marcelli says he remembers the cashier mentioning the game’s rating to parents but says there’s nothing he could do about it.
We want your opinion: Do you think Shop with a Cop organizers should put rules in place to restrict certain purchases?
Each child was required to pick a toy to give to Toys for Tots. Others decided to go beyond that and gave all of their toys to the cause.
Marcelli hopes that one bad purchase doesn’t outweigh all of the good that comes from the event.