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I’m consumed by guilt and anxiety whenever I’m not shadowing my parents’ every move. Recently, I let my guard down—and nearly watched my mum fall prey to smooth-talking con artists and their elaborate scam.
My parents devoted their lives to raising me, building a foundation of care and protection I strive to repay. But no matter how much I try, the tables can turn in an instant.
Like so many other Asians who struggle to put love into words, I channel my affection through food. Lavish meals have become my language of gratitude, a way of saying everything I can’t articulate out loud. 
So, in November 2023, I decided to treat my parents to a popular hotel buffet along Orchard Road for my dad’s 74th birthday. The idea of all-you-can-eat seemed foolproof, and the restaurant buzzed with an energy that made me feel I’d chosen right.
For 35 years, my parents and I lived under the same roof, sharing everything. Even after I moved into my own place, we maintained a close bond, our regular communal meals serving as cherished check-ins, a chance to update each other on the little and big things in life.
The mood of this jovial dinner took an unexpected turn when my mum, 72, who had always taught me to be unyielding with myself, laid down a revelation that made my heart skip a beat. In a voice trembling with anger and regret, she revealed that she’d nearly lost her life savings to some mysterious strangers.
My mum’s gaze was fixed on the floor like an embarrassed child as she recounted the gaslighting she had endured, her voice trembling with anger and regret.
My fists and teeth clenched as she disclosed that she had been fooled by swindlers.
At 9 AM one morning in October 2023, my mum picked up a call from a voice that somehow knew her name.
“There has been a transaction of over S$900 on your OCBC credit card,” the caller announced, triggering a ripple of confusion within her. She owned an OCBC account, yes, but no credit card.
The supposed “bank teller” calmly asked if she wanted to cancel the transaction and file a police report. When she agreed, he “transferred” her to a police station. Thus, with the press of a button, my mother crossed a threshold, lured by skilled emotional manipulators who saw through her defences to the vulnerable heart beneath.
In reality, bank tellers will never transfer calls to the police.
“It was all so realistic,” she recalls. Her voice tightened, shame hardening into anger. She had answered his questions, divulging her bank details in full trust.
“Are you in a room alone?” the stranger on the phone asked.
“This statement must be kept secret. Not even your husband can know.” She complied, entranced by his authority.
At this point of telling her story, my mother was so angry—at the voice actors and even more so at herself—that she was swearing to herself in Teochew. She was spewing expletives from the old country that even I hadn’t heard before.
“In hindsight, all these questions were meant to gather information from me. At that time, I had to leave for work, so the fake policeman told me to call him back later.”
By the following day, the game had darkened.
“The officer was oddly… polite,” she recounted, eyebrows knitting with a mix of dread and disbelief. He asked about her day, about her meals, lulling her, it seemed, into a false sense of security.
The following day, he transferred her to his senior officer—an Inspector Yong, who surprisingly knew her personal details, including her bank account number. And with each personal detail, he baited her deeper.
Inspector Yong claimed to have uncovered her involvement in two other money laundering cases—he even described an arrest warrant in her name.
“Is there somewhere quiet where we can talk?” he gently asked.
Inspector Yong suggested they continue their confidential conversation somewhere secluded, like a nearby void deck. Again, my mum complied.
However, according to Inspector Yong, my mother could avoid arrest if she followed his instructions and logged into her online banking account.
Fortunately enough, my mum is terrible with all things involving computers, mobile apps and anything that didn’t exist in 1990.
Inspector Yong became exasperated from trying to help this senior log in. After multiple attempts, they gave up trying to access her online banking account. He said that they could try again the next day, and she went home.
Shaken but suspicious, my mother confided in my father. He quickly reached out to a friend in the force.
As soon as he mentioned the name “Inspector Yong,” the response was immediate: “You’ve been scammed.”
My mother’s cheeks flushed with shame as she realised how close she had come to losing everything. But for all her regrets, she knew she was lucky. She would have been another silent statistic if not for her blessed computer illiteracy, a shield that saved her in her moment of greatest vulnerability.
“If we had logged into my banking account and had I given him details like my OTP, he could have wiped out my life savings.”
It took a lot for my mum to recall and verbalise this brief lapse of judgment, so after she had gotten it off her chest, I changed the topic to something lighthearted. I wanted the convivial mood of the birthday dinner to continue, so I joked that her not losing her life savings made this a double celebration. My dad chimed in with amusing banter too, which earned a smile and laugh from her.
As her son, it stung. My mum has toiled for years to provide for her family and doesn’t have any indulgences because she believes that it’s more important to save for a rainy day. She was lucky that the only harm this scam caused was to her pride—she still curses ‘Inspector Yong’ and his accomplices under her breath. However, many others were not as fortunate.
We escaped financial ruin by sheer luck. When I was a child, my mother did her utmost to protect me. As an adult caring for my elderly parents, it’s frustrating that there’s little I can do to protect her besides calling her often and talking to her about new types of scams.
However, it’s heartening that she’s been reading up on scam tactics. 
In the first half of 2024, over 26,000 victims lost S$385.6 million to scams, and it’s not just the elderly—last year, 73 percent of victims were below 50 years of age.
These days, she hopes other seniors too will take steps to protect themselves and their life savings, like downloading the ScamShield app, setting daily limits for bank transactions and activating the Money Lock feature. It’s great that ScamShield also has a 24/7 helpline (1799) that anyone can call during moments of uncertainty.
Last month, my mum received another call. This time, the caller claimed that an even larger amount had been transacted through her bank account. This time, she smirked and hung up.
“We need to inform the public what types of scams are out there and how to avoid falling for them,” she opines.
She’s wisened up to the modus operandi of scammers. Showing her how to differentiate the authentic from the suspicious hasn’t been easy, but this close call has made me more patient with teaching her.
On the unfortunate flip side, however, this attempted banking scam has made my mother even more averse to electronic services. She’ll continue to update her passbook at the bank for as long as she can walk there.
One electronic service she’s become familiar with, though, is how to lodge an online police report.
“We also need to tell Singaporeans what banking and police services can be done online and what requires our physical presence.”
In our journey towards greater personal safety, she and I have also learned that the police will never ask for information related to banking, SingPass or CPF over the phone or via text. Nor will they ever ask us to transfer money, click on links that lead to bank websites, or download apps outside of official app stores.
If required to provide any information or statements, an individual may insist on meeting ‘police officers’ like Inspector Yong at a police station in person.
“For those who aren’t aware, other people cannot apply for a credit card under your name, so if a caller makes such a claim, know that it might be a scam.”
Losing a fortune to scammers has been mentally debilitating for some victims, but for my mum, her harrowing encounter has sparked a personal mission to spread awareness to others.
She still sounds embarrassed when she shares her close shave with friends and family, but does so anyway, in the spirit of safeguarding them from scammers.
All our essential services have adopted online processes, which are hurriedly onboarding one and all, regardless of how much one knows about online security.
This urban rush, coupled with blind trust in reputable corporations and statutory boards, has led to thousands of Singaporeans being swindled every year, and these include not just the elderly but young digital natives too.
So let’s be patient with scam victims, who could do without our judgment piled atop their self-blame. While many fear reproach, reaching out quickly to avenues of support is vital to mitigating the damage.
In a high-tech world that has cut out the human touch, perhaps the best bulwark against this theatre of malicious actors can be built from human connections.
The key strategy of my mum’s scammers was to isolate her. This reaffirms the importance of checking on our loved ones frequently so none of them will ever go through such an ordeal alone.

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Sublime Security, a Washington, D.C.-based startup developing email security software, has raised $60 million in a Series B funding round led by IVP, with participation from other West Coast firms — Index Ventures, Decibel Partners, and Slow Ventures.
The firm had closed its Series A led by Index Ventures earlier this year. Series A investors include Crowdstrike co-founder Dmitri Alperovitch, who also joined the Sublime board.
Tapping Microsoft, Google Customers
Founded by Josh Kamdjou, who managed cybersecurity for the U.S. Department of Defense for a decade, and IanThiel, a former Optimizely executive, Sublime helps users of Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace secure their email. Its customers include Spotify, Reddit and Elastic.
“Today, I’m more convinced than ever that the path we chose, despite resetting our clock back a couple years, is right. Not only for tackling email security, but the architecture of the future in a new world of AI-assisted threats,” said Kamdjou, Sublime’s CEO.
In a blog post on the funding, Kamdjou said “a lot of people thought we were crazy” when Sublime set out in 2021 to build email security using a detection engine backed by a programmable domain-specific language, or DSL. Sublime also built its business differently — without “a single cold sales email or phone call,” or a “paid ad.”
Focus on AI-Assisted Attacks
Sublime’s core platform, built with AI, helps customers to self-host the software and manage threats. It also features an Attack Score to prioritize email threats. Attack Score can also be combined with other threat detection methods to develop unified threat protection.
Having established its ability to provide more security than Microsoft and Google do to their users, Sublime is eyeing opportunities emerging from growing numbers of AI-assisted cyberattacks.
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“The real-time detection engines of tomorrow must rapidly adapt to changes in the threat landscape, while working at massive scale and across tremendous environmental diversity,” Kamdjou said. “Detection efficacy gets stale otherwise. Not to mention the lack of transparency, visibility, and control that most practitioners at large enterprises need to do their jobs effectively.”
Alongside the funding announcement, Sublime Security said it has hired former Wiz executive Colin Jones as president to run go-to-market. Jones was chief revenue officer at Wiz, which earlier this year rejected a $23 billion acquisition offer from Google’s parent Alphabet. At Wiz, Jones is credited with taking the company’s revenue from $0 to $100 million in a record 18 months.

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In liaison with Education International (EI) “Go Public! Fund Education” campaign, the Japan Teachers’ Union (JTU) unveiled a new survey which shows the country’s educators are grappling with long working hours, additional extracurricular activities, and no significant improvement in working conditions.
JTU Deputy General Secretary Shunichi Yamazaki warns: “If this continues, there is a real and terrible risk that public schools across the country could all go bankrupt at once.”
The 2024 JTU survey, part of the union’s “School in Crisis” conducted online from mid-July to mid-September 2024, was filled out by members of the union. Despite the survey being released annually since 2014, there has been no significant improvement in the working and living conditions of teachers. Although relevant laws have been amended, the Ministry of Education has yet to implement effective measures.
The survey sheds light on several factors contributing to the long working hours endured by educators. These include a severe teacher shortage and the demands of after-school club activities, which are widespread in Japan.
Both lower and higher secondary schools offer these activities, requiring teachers to participate and enforce rules as managers or coaches. More than 40% of the surveyed teachers expressed a desire to avoid involvement in these extracurricular duties.
JTU reported that, in the ongoing discussions about the national budget for 2025, Japan’s Minister of Education has proposed an increase in the adjustment allowance for public school teachers, raising it from 4% to 13% of their monthly salary, but only for the 2025 budget. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has put forward a more gradual plan, suggesting an increase from 4% to 10% over five years.
For JTU, both proposals unacceptable. The union reiterated the urgent need for more teachers, reduced workloads and substantial amendments or the abolishment of the relevant laws.
It also noted that these proposals are insufficient and calls for immediate and effective measures to ensure the well-being of educators and the quality of education.
For JTU the survey is a call to education authorities in Japan, to fully fund public education, invest in the teaching profession, and engage teachers and education personnel at all levels of decision making.
Education International – Unless otherwise noted, all content on this website is free to use under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 license.
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From replacing joints to heart valves — Indians are increasingly going for medical interventions even at advanced ages to improve their quality of life. With people living longer, physicians and healthcare systems are looking at healthy ageing by managing chronic conditions, preventing complications, and intervening to ensure that people remain physically and mentally active.
Be it the government’s flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme being expanded to cover the elderly or the country’s insurance regulator doing away with the 65-year restriction for purchasing a policy — health of the elderly was brought to the fore in 2024.
Loss of muscles, balance and conditions like Parkinson’s means falls and fractures is a big concern for the elderly. Add to that age-related osteoporosis — a condition that causes bones to become brittle and weak — and the risk of bone breaks shoots up. “Around 15 per cent of people over the age of 60 fall every year — one per cent of these falls can lead to hospitalisation. Falls can be really life-threatening. However, when a person falls from a standing height and breaks their bone, it’s a sign that they have osteoporosis. It can get so bad that some may break their bones while turning in their bed,” says Dr Rajesh Malhotra, orthopaedician at Delhi’s Indraprastha Apollo hospital and former head of AIIMS trauma centre.
Osteoporosis can be age-related but it can also be linked to the use of certain medicines such as anti-epilepsy drugs, diuretics, cancer medicines and chemotherapy, even smoking. Kidney or liver disease is known to cause osteoporosis. “It’s a silent disease — people lose more of their bone without a single symptom. The first fracture is the first symptom of the disease,” explains Dr Malhotra.
While osteoporosis may be the underlying condition, hip fractures are a big cause of concern in the elderly. “Hip fracture is a sign of not just failing bones but of a failing body. Even in the US, 25 per cent of those who suffer a hip fracture die within a year. When it comes to India, 40 per cent die. Also, Indians fracture their hips a decade earlier than Western counterparts,” he says, adding that the aim is to operate on it as quickly as possible.
The wear and tear of joints can also lead to hip fractures. “A large majority of patients with hip fractures also have a bad knee — and the hip break tends to be on the same side as the bad knee. I tell my patients, even if they do not want to undergo a joint replacement surgery, they should use a stick or walker, otherwise they would fall and break their hips. While people are living longer, the last decade of life can be bad, with many ignoring their health. It is heartening to see more and more people getting the joint replacement surgeries that they need. Even if one is 100 years old, if they are otherwise fit and can afford it, they should get their replacement surgeries. It immensely improves their quality of life and keeps them mobile, helping keep their bones healthy. A majority of those who get operated on regret that they wasted so much time,” says Dr Malhotra, who now operates on three persons over the age of 80 years every week.
How to prevent falls? First, take all prescribed medicines to keep chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension in check. Second, ensure adequate nutrition because people tend to eat less as they age and get malnourished. The thinner you are, the likelier you are to get a fracture. Third, improve Vitamin D levels. “We have an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency, which increases the risk of fractures. Even in a sunny country like ours there is Vitamin D deficiency because we don’t step out in the sun between 10 am and 3 pm when it’s made. We keep our neck and upper trunk that absorb the maximum Vitamin D covered, we are dark-skinned. When it comes to the elderly the lack of fat under the skin also has an impact — the sun actually converts the cholesterol to Vitamin D,” says Dr Malhotra.
Correcting eye sight and hearing aids and wearing proper footwear can prevent falls significantly. Someone who takes more than four medicines or someone who has to stop walking in order to speak is at a higher risk of falls. Someone who takes more than 12 seconds to get up from their chair, walk 6 metres, turn around, come back and sit, is also more likely to fall.
If you have had a fall from standing height that resulted in a fracture, get diagnosed for the condition. Post-menopausal women and men above the age of 50 years at a higher risk of osteoporosis may get Dexa scan to check bone density once in two years — once a year if they are undergoing osteoporosis treatment or have other conditions that lead to bone loss.
Coronary artery disease is the biggest challenge when it comes to heart health of people over the age of 60 years. “Most elderly people ignore their health but that can lead to more problems. It is essential that they keep all their chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension in check, take their medicines, remain active and more importantly sleep properly,” saysDr Rakesh Yadav, professor of cardiology at All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.
He says regular tests to check blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, haemoglobin levels can help but there is no need for any other test. “If there is no chest pain or shortness of breath, there is no need for any specialised tests. If people have the symptoms, they should consult their doctors,” he advises.
Dr VK Bahl, principal director of cardiac sciences at Max Hospitals and former head of cardio-thoracic centre at AIIMS, says that with people living longer, the absolute number of people with coronary heart disease and heart failure is on the rise. Minimally invasive procedures have encouraged the elderly to opt for them. “With percutaneous valve replacement — a minimally invasive procedure to replace damaged valves — people are going for surgeries even at older ages because their chest doesn’t have to be opened up. They are also undergoing procedures such as ablation (minimally invasive procedure to destroy abnormal tissue) for irregular heart rhythm,” he says.
When it comes to the brain, vascular conditions such as strokes and neurodegenerative conditions like dementia are a cause for concern. “While most risk factors for stroke have remained the same, over the years, air pollution has emerged as the fifth most common risk factor in south Asian countries. After Covid-19, there has also been an increase in neuro-cognitive disorders such as dementia. Whether there is a definite co-relation is yet to be seen, research is still under way,” said Dr MV Padma Shrivastava, chairperson of neurology at Paras Health-Gurugram and former HOD of neurology at AIIMS.
“We are also seeing a peculiar constellation of autoimmune disorders in the last few years that may be linked to Covid-19 as well. These respond to immune modulators. People may think an autoimmune condition is primarily psychiatric but it may lead to changes in memory and higher mental functions. It can lead to changes in food behaviours, preferences, sleep pattern, problem solving among others.”
It is essential to diagnose and treat conditions such as dementia early on. Dr Padma says that people with dementia forget that they have forgotten things. “It is something that they will not be able to notice but family members will. Someone who is good with words will start groping around for them. Serial steps that a person could do without thinking at all will take longer to do. There are changes in the personality — say, someone starts craving sweets when they have hated it all their life or someone who always reads newspapers stops reading it. These are red flags and the person should be taken to a doctor immediately,” she says.
The increasing elderly population may present challenges but an awareness of healthy ageing and right practices can turn them into opportunities for ensuring longevity that can be productive as well.
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Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. … Read More
Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, recently expressed his dissatisfaction with a cup of tea he drank in Gurugram on X. Mr Wong posted two images of the cafe’s interior and a kulhad (earthen cup), expressing his disappointment at having to pay Rs 169 (tax included) for what he called “tasteless” chai.

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Lagoon continues its 40th-anniversary celebrations by announcing its largest model yet, the Lagoon Eighty2, a mighty 80-footer that will indeed have the crowds queuing for an ogle at boat shows.
The Bordeaux brand strengthens its offering in the lengthy yacht market with the Lagoon Eighty2. It has already built 88 catamarans over 75ft, including 52 of its Seventy7.
Designed by Lagoon’s stronghold team of VPLP, Nauta and Patrick Le Quément, this Lagoon Eighty2 retains the prize feature of the Seventy7 – a hull door which opens out of the topsides to create a private terrace for the master cabin. Stepping out from the king-sized berth and diving straight into the sea must be a heightened level of luxury.
Lagoon Eighty2 features a huge saloon, flybridge and hull door terrace from the master cabin
The layout of the first model sees three other guest cabins and a lower galley connecting to crew quarters. This is a yacht for many guests, friends and family to enjoy – you just need to choose from where best to do so. The beam-wide saloon looks formidable, and links through to a forward cockpit for up to eight.
Article continues below…
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Right aft you’ll find a hydraulically lifting dinghy and bathing platform, which can seamlessly extend the already generous cockpit space. Or take the gently sloping stairs up to the freestanding furniture adorning the 50m2 of flybridge space. Decisions, decisions…
Hulls are constructed in bio-sourced and recycled resin, which reduces CO2 emissions by 10 tonnes per boat. The world premiere is expected to be at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2025.
The November issue of Yachting World is on sale 10 October and contains all the usual news and reviews about the boating world, plus: First steps to bluewater – You…

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Blackford County Coroner confirms 2nd overdose death linked to Xylazine  FOX 59 Indianapolis
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The Asking Eric advice column is written by R. Eric Thomas.Tribune Content Agency
Dear Eric: I’m a 75-year-old amateur songwriter who enjoys recording what I write. I’m also a widower going on three years. When my wife of 42 years was alive, I wrote songs for and about her and us. I’d record them at home and send the recordings to our boys and in-laws who always responded positively.
I received great joy in sharing my love for my wife and my musical talent.
Now I have a live-in girlfriend whom my boys and family all embrace. Everyone says they’re happy that I’m happy and with someone who fits in well.
Now my songs are about her and us. I recently (naively?) sent out the first of the new recordings to the usual recipients and am troubled about whether to do it again.
One son’s cryptic response made me call him to talk it through. Even though he wants me to be happy, he really doesn’t want to hear my songs that embrace someone new. My other son was more accepting, but less so than before. My brother-in-law said he could only listen to half of the song because he’s still mourning my wife’s passing.
Now I feel like a songwriter who can’t share my songs with the people who matter the most in my life. Of course, we’ve all talked about this, but that doesn’t solve my problem. Is my not sharing this joyful music with my loved ones the only answer?
— Music of the Heart
Dear Music: I just have to say: it’s wonderful that you’re not only a skilled communicator in song, but also in conversation. You’ve saved yourself and everyone else some of the heartache of miscommunication by reaching out to your sons and brother-in-law proactively.
Right now, your loved ones may not be the best audience for the music you’re producing. But your music will continue to evolve and their capacity to receive it may as well. Because the joy of your songs is also intertwined with grief, it’s going to take time.
See how it feels to shift your audience for the time being — perhaps these are just songs for your girlfriend, or other close friends. Also consider an experiment: try expanding your subject matter for a song or two. There might be something else that inspires you to write. And your loved ones may welcome a chance to listen to it and keep this connection.
I know this situation may feel like a rejection at the moment, but know that this is part of the process. The album isn’t over.
Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

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Dec 16, 2024
Vienna Police Sgt. Fred Cochran, right, and his wife Sierra Cochran, center, watch Eden Dwyer, 5, left, place a toy in a cart during the Vienna Police’s Shop With A Cop Event at the Vienna Walmart Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
VIENNA — Police officers pushing shopping carts and children giddy with the chance to buy toys was a common sight in the Mid-Ohio Valley this weekend.
The Vienna Police in conjunction with other agencies, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Marietta Police all hosted Shop With A Cop events this weekend.
The Fraternal Order of Police Blennerhassett Lodge 79 held its Shop With A Cop event at the Vienna Walmart Sunday morning and at the southside Parkersburg Walmart Sunday afternoon, according to volunteer Laurea Ellis.
Officers from the Vienna, Williamstown and Parkersburg Police, the Wood and Ritchie County Sheriff’s Offices, the West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources participated in the event, according to Vienna Police Detective and Lodge President Ryan Black.
Ellis said they screen children to determine if they are enrolled in Wood County Schools and give preference to children that have had a negative experience with law enforcement when choosing which children will participate in the event.
Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Tristan Talarico, center, plays with toy lightsabers with a child he is helping shop during a Shop With A Cop event Saturday at the Marietta Walmart. (Photo Provided)
The Lodge helped 103 children through its Shop With A Cop event — 53 children at the Vienna Walmart and 50 at the southside Parkersburg Walmart — Ellis said, and they were all elementary school-aged children.
The purpose of Shop With A Cop is to project a better image of law enforcement, according to Ellis.
“We couldn’t do this without Walmart,” she said.
Walmart provided snacks for the children, according to Ellis, and a stocking stuffed with toys and other treats.
“It’s just a community effort,” she said.
Marietta Police Patrolman Tip Griffin poses with two children with which he participated in Shop With A Cop Saturday morning at the Marietta Walmart. Each child received $250 to spend on toys of their choosing. (Photo Provided)
Children were paired with a police officer and they received $150 to shop for toys, whatever they wanted, she said.
“It’s all about the kids,” Ellis said.
Vienna pastor Nate Gibbons helped out at Shop With A Cop as Santa, entertaining the children with jokes and singing Christmas carols until it was their turn to go shopping.
Families that wanted their childrens’ toys wrapped after they were bought could get them wrapped during the event as well, according to Ellis.
Vienna resident Jeannie Davenport brought her daughter Alyssa Horner, 10, to the Shop With A Cop event. She said her landlord told her about the program and this is Horner’s fourth year participating.
Parkersburg resident Eden Wyer, 5, shows off a Bluey toy she chose as part of the Washington County Sheriff’s Shop With A Cop event Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
“We’re low income,” she said. “It’s been a blessing.”
Horner’s said her favorite part of Shop With A Cop is “the toys” and Davenport said the event helps her family “greatly.”
Black has participated in Shop With A Cop for four years, since he moved back to his hometown of Vienna, and he said it is an incredible event.
“It’s an amazing way to give back to the community, especially kids,” he said.
He thanked all the donors, volunteers, law enforcement officers and their spouses and partners that helped make the event possible.
“The joy and the happiness that we bring to the children,” is Black’s favorite part of Shop With A Cop. “Seeing their faces light up … It’s awesome.”
Parkersburg resident Maria Conner and her niece, who she has custody of, Eden Wyer, 5, were at the Shop With A Cop event.
“I love it,” Conner said. “It helps out a lot because we were tight this year. It just really helps out a lot. I’m very thankful.”
Wyer was paired with Vienna Police Sgt. Fred Cochran and his wife Sierra Cochran.
Wyer said she was having “fun” while shopping and that she loved the reindeer antlers the children got to wear.
Wyer picked out a bike, a Bluey set and other toys. Her favorite item was the “Minnie Mouse toy” she picked, she said.
“This is awesome,” Sgt. Cochran said after helping Wyer shop. “It’s good to see the kids get to enjoy it.”
“I just love little kids,” Sierra Cochran said. She agreed with Sgt. Cochran that the event was “awesome.”
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office held a Shop With A Cop event Saturday morning at the Marietta Walmart, according to Sgt. Mark Johnson.
They helped approximately 21 children, according to Johnson, and the children received $300 each to spend on toys. The Sheriff’s Office also helped the children get winter clothing like boots, hats and gloves.
The Fraternal Order of Police Gold Star Lodge 188 fundraised for the event and ran it, according to Johnson.
There is no application process for children to participate, he said, and most of the children who participate are recommended by their schools.
The Sheriff’s Office tries to help children who may not qualify for yearly help around Christmastime, he said.
Johnson and his wife helped a child shop.
“It’s great,” he said. “Part of the process is to let (children) see an officer in a good light … get a chance to maybe talk with them.”
He said he liked getting the chance to interact with children and the boy he helped shop chose Pikachu-related toys.
“We are seeing families that are very grateful,” he said. “(It) lets the kids see police officers in a different light because sometimes we have to go into houses and take parents away.”
The Marietta Police also held a Shop With A Cop event at the Marietta Walmart Saturday morning after the Washington County Sheriff’s event, according to Sgt. Tyson Estes.
The Marietta Police helped 20 children shop and gave them each $250 each for toys, according to Estes, and they also bought any children that didn’t have one a winter jacket, bedding and a Christmas tree with lights and decorations, he said.
The Fraternal Order of Police Pioneer Lodge 12 fundraised for the event and ran it, according to Estes, who is president of the lodge.
“It went really well this year,” Estes said. “All the kids were great. They were very, very appreciative. They had a great time.”
He said the children they helped ranged in age from 5 to their late teens.
Estes was paired with a 7-year-old girl, he said.
“She was a firecracker … I don’t have any girls,” Estes said. “It was great. She wanted fancy pajamas and things for her hair … and Barbie dolls, which I’ve never bought before, so it was fun.”
He said the Marietta Police hosts Shop With A Cop so that they can have interactions with children and show them that police officers are more than just law enforcement, they are members of the community.
The Marietta Police want to make sure “nobody wakes up and doesn’t have a tree and something to open for Christmas,” Estes said.
His favorite part of Shop With A Cop was seeing the little girl he helped be excited and seeing everybody, children and police officers, smiling.
“To just see a kid having a great day and knowing you’re responsible for it is awesome,” Estes said.
During the year his job “drains his battery … this (event), I get to get recharged,” he said.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com

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