Media: Photos of the event can be found in the SCDPS online photo album here.

BLYTHEWOOD - Troopers and officers from South Carolina Department of Public Safety, with support from the SC Troopers Association and Walmart, provided some comfort to children across the state ahead of the holiday season.

During Wednesday's Shop with a Cop event, 160 children who suffered a highway tragedy were invited to join SC Highway Patrol troopers and State Transport Police officers at seven different Walmart locations across South Carolina.

“These kids have gone through more heartbreak this year than many of us will in a lifetime,” said Colonel Christopher N. Williamson, Commander of the SC Highway Patrol. “It’s important to remember that highway fatalities are more than numbers and statistics. They affect real families — mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and friends.”

Thanks to the generosity of donors to the SC Troopers Association, each child received a $150 gift card to spend how they wished.

The Highway Patrol’s Victim Services Unit coordinated the event with seven Walmart stores across South Carolina. The unit then invited children who have lost someone in their life to a highway-related death, or whose loved one experienced a life-altering injury, to attend.

“It truly is an honor to walk alongside these families on a daily basis and hear their stories,” said Crystal Salley, SC Highway Patrol’s Victim Services Unit manager. “There is nothing quite so rewarding as seeing the faces of these children light up with joy this holiday season. I am beyond grateful to our donors for making this evening possible.”

Additionally, officers from the State Transport Police accompanied the children of the late Officer First Class Mark S. Reynolds, who passed away during a medical emergency earlier this year.

The Shop with a Cop events aim to foster positive relationships between the youth and local law enforcement, as well as spread some holiday cheer for children in need. The South Carolina Highway Patrol helped more than 130 children ahead of the Christmas holiday during the 2023 Shop with a Cop event, thanks to the generosity and support of the SC Troopers Association and with support from Walmart.

For individuals interested in donating to future SCHP community events, please visit the SC Troopers Association website to learn more – www.sctroopers.org.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.