Don’t Panic, Billings. Lights and Sirens on Saturday are Xmas Cheer

Now in its third year, Billings' Shop With a Cop program is a pretty special event, especially for the 50 local children who get the opportunity to go Christmas shopping with local responders. These kids also get to experience the thrill of riding in cop cars, fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles on Saturday (12/17) through the heart of downtown Billings.

Expect a large police presence on Saturday morning.

As a grown adult who just happens to have access to an old ambulance (we repurposed one into a promotional vehicle for our Classic Rock station), I can assure you that getting to light up a real siren and flashing emergency lights is a really, really enjoyable thing to do. Fifty children selected this year will get to experience that joy as they head from MetraPark to the West End Walmart on Saturday to go shopping.

I bet the cops love it as much as the kids.

The Shop With a Cop parade departs from the Metra at 9 AM on Saturday. It heads down 1st Ave to downtown, then Broadwater to 24th St West. Supporters are encouraged to line the route and cheer on the procession of emergency responder vehicles as they head to Walmart. Fifty kids selected from School District 2 will get to spend $350 each with local law enforcement officers to buy toys and gifts for Christmas.

The event is funded by various charity events throughout the year. One of the bigger donations came from the Billings Association of Realtors Quality of Life Casino Night this spring.