Tyrone Police have been busy. And their efforts were not contained only to law enforcement. Members of the department continued their gift giving ways that began earlier in December in the Shop with a Cop program for needy children with a visit to Southland Nursing Home in Peachtree City Dec. 21 to help Santa stuff stockings using some of the proceeds from the earlier effort.

“With money left over from our hugely successful Shop with a Cop program the Tyrone Police Department was able to extend even more Christmas cheer to area residents. We contacted the Southland Nursing home in Peachtree City to see if there was any way we could help some of their residents out this Christmas,” said Chief Brandon Perkins. “We were advised that 11 out of 155 of their stockings had yet to be filled. Each stocking had a list of necessities such as toiletries, socks, blankets and lotions that each resident requested for Christmas. With the left over funds from Shop with a Cop, we were able to fill all 11 of the empty stockings this year and we donated a brand new compact disc player for their activities room for all of them to enjoy.”

On their visit to Southland Nursing Home, Perkins and police department Public Information Officer Alicia Batts helped Santa and his helpers pass out Christmas gifts and stockings and unwrap presents.

The police department’s Shop with a Cop effort raised more than $8,000 from area businesses willing to make a difference in the lives of needy children at Christmas. Officers and department staff accompanied eight children, Christmas lists in hand, on a shopping trip Dec. 8 in Tyrone and Peachtree City.

“All in all, the Shop with a Cop program was a huge success and we are looking forward to next year. We have set a goal to help at least 12 kids,” Perkins said of the overwhelming efforts by so many area businesses to the Shop with a Cop effort. “This is what being a public servant is all about, giving back more than you take and doing all you can to help others. I’m very proud of my officers for their dedication to the community and for their altruism.”

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