By Connor Harbit

Door County Sheriff-elect Tammy Sternard will once again lead her annual “Chop and Shop with a Cop” program on December 8th. The program, now entering its 16th year, sees cooperation between the sheriff’s office, the Sturgeon Bay Police Department, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Local youth are paired off with cops and spend the day doing various activities to help spread holiday cheer, such as chopping down a Christmas tree or going shopping for winter clothes. They also pick out gifts for the child and their family. The day ends with a pizza and gift wrapping party before the family of each child is sent home with a full Christmas meal. Sternard said the program is a good way to communicate with youth outside of a job-like setting.

Sternard said that around 30 families are usually selected and the sheriff’s office works closely with Door County schools to identify which kids would benefit most from the program.